Former Natick Town Meeting member Ianni faces sentencing for role in Capitol riots

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
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NATICK — Former Town Meeting member Suzanne Ianni faces six months in federal prison after pleading guilty to her role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

Ianni, 60, pleaded guilty Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to one count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

Authorities say Ianni, who is now a registered voter in Saugus, organized busloads of supporters of former President Donald Trump through an organization called Super Happy Fun America to head to Washington, D.C., to protest the certification of President Joe Biden's election win.

“We were expressing our First Amendment rights to protest an illegal election,” Ianni previously told the Daily News about her group’s attendance in Washington. “It was very moving, very inspiring. It’s what America is all about.”

More: Judge declines to dismiss Capitol riot case against former Natick resident

In a nonbinding vote, Natick Town Meeting in April 2021 overwhelmingly voted to condemn the Jan. 6 riots. The final vote was 113-20, with seven abstentions.

Ianni, when reached the morning after the vote, called the action "political persecution of conservatives.”

Ianni had previously filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing in February that she was targeted by federal authorities due to her political beliefs.

Former Natick Town Meeting member Suzanne Ianni pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to one count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.
Former Natick Town Meeting member Suzanne Ianni pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to one count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

Her attorney, Henry Fasoldt, previously argued that his client’s actions “mirrored that of hundreds of others who recently protested at the same location. Ms. Ianni was accused of committing federal crimes for her behavior. The other protestors were not. The difference between the two is political.”

A federal judge denied the motion to dismiss in April.

More: Natick Town Meeting passes nonbinding resolution condemning Jan. 6 riots

After the denial, Ianni changed her plea to guilty. Along with a maximum of six months in prison, she faces five years of probation.

U.S. District Court Carl Nichos scheduled Ianni's sentencing for Dec. 2.

Ianni could not be reached for comment.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Sue Ianni pleads guilty to role in Jan. 6 Capitol riots