STUDY: International Terror Defendants Face Longer Prison Terms Than Domestic Counterparts

(Associated Press) – A new study has found that people convicted of crimes related to domestic extremism face far shorter prison terms than those convicted in international terrorism cases, even when the crimes are similar.

The first-of-its-kind analysis by terrorism researchers at the University of Maryland comes amid scrutiny of the outcomes of Jan. 6 cases, including for some Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who received sentences years lower than what was called for by prosecutors and sentencing guidelines.

President Joe Biden has called domestic terrorism the “most urgent terrorism threat” faced by the country, yet the data show that on average, the penalties associated with the crimes don’t reflect that.