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A US man with a long criminal record has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attacking police officers with pepper spray and a chair during the storming of the US Capitol.

Peter Schwartz's prison sentence is the longest so far among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The judge who sentenced him also handed down the previous longest sentence -- 10 years -- to a retired New York Police Department officer who assaulted a police officer outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of 24 years and 6 months for Schwartz, a welder.

US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Schwartz to 14 years and two months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Mehta said Schwartz was a "soldier against democracy" who participated in "the kind of mayhem, chaos that had never been seen in the country's history."

Schwartz briefly addressed the judge before learning his sentence, saying, "I do sincerely regret the damage that January 6 has caused to so many people and their lives."

The judge said he didn't believe Schwartz's statement, noting his lack of remorse.

Schwartz was armed with a wooden tyre knocker when he and his then-wife, Shelly Stallings, joined other rioters in overwhelming a line of police officers on the Capitol's Lower West Terrace, where he threw a folding chair at officers.

"By throwing that chair, Schwartz directly contributed to the fall of the police line that enabled rioters to flood forward and take over the entire terrace," prosecutor Jocelyn Bond wrote in a court filing.

Schwartz, 49, also armed himself with a police-issued "super soaker" canister of pepper spray and sprayed it at retreating officers. Advancing to a tunnel entrance, Schwartz coordinated with two other rioters, Markus Maly and Jeffrey Brown, to spray an orange liquid toward officers clashing with the mob.

Schwartz was tried with co-defendants Maly and Brown. In December, a jury convicted all three of assault charges and other felony offences.

Mehta sentenced Brown last Friday to four years and six months in prison. Maly is scheduled to be sentenced June 9.

Stallings pleaded guilty last year to riot-related charges and was sentenced last month to two years of incarceration.

Schwartz's attorneys said his actions on January 6 were motivated by a "misunderstanding" about the 2020 presidential election. Then-President Donald Trump and his allies spread baseless conspiracy theories that Democrats stole the election from the Republican incumbent.

"There remain many grifters out there who remain free to continue propagating the 'great lie' that Trump won the election, Donald Trump being among the most prominent. Mr Schwartz is not one of these individuals; he knows he was wrong," his defence lawyers wrote.

Schwartz has raised over $US71,000 from an online campaign entitled "Patriot Pete Political Prisoner in DC." Prosecutors asked Mehta to order Schwartz to pay a fine equalling the amount raised by his campaign, arguing he shouldn't profit from participating in the riot.

Schwartz was on probation when he joined the January 6 riot. His criminal record includes 38 prior convictions since 1991, "several of which involved assaulting or threatening officers or other authority figures," Bond wrote.

The 10-year prison sentence that Mehta handed down in September to retired NYPD officer Thomas Webster had remained the longest until Friday. Webster had used a metal flagpole to assault an officer and then tackled the same officer as the mob advanced toward the Capitol.

© AP 2023

Federal Liberal MP Stuart Robert will retire from politics, leading to another by-election in Queensland.

The shadow assistant treasurer made the announcement on Saturday morning, saying he wanted to focus on family after 16 years in politics.

"My family has stood with me throughout this time, through thick and thin," Mr Robert said in a statement.

"It is now time for my family to have a husband, a father and a son to stand by them."

Mr Robert served as the minister for veterans' affairs, the minister for the national disability insurance scheme and the minister for government services under the Turnbull and Morrison governments.

He acknowledged his time in parliament had "not been the smoothest ride", saying people "try to throw the kitchen sink at you".

His comments came amid allegations he was linked to a Canberra lobbying and consulting firm that helped companies secure lucrative government contracts.

A government review found 19 contracts needed further investigation over a lack of appropriate record keeping and were not considered as having delivered bang for buck.

Mr Robert denied any wrongdoing, saying there were no findings of clear misconduct.

He also fronted the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme in March, where he admitted he had personal doubts about the way debts were being calculated.

Mr Robert said he continued to publicly back the Centrelink scheme due to his obligations as a cabinet minister.

In his retirement statement, the Liberal MP maintained he was proud of what he had achieved in politics, saying it had been a privilege to serve the Australian people.

He also called for a more civil federal parliament.

"I do fear division has well and truly entrenched itself in the current parliament," Mr Robert said.

"A kinder and gentler parliament it is not."

Mr Robert said he had some final duties to fulfil over the coming weeks before finishing up.

His retirement will trigger a federal by-election in the northern Gold Coast seat of Fadden.

It will be another test for the federal opposition, who lost the Aston by-election in Victoria earlier this year.

It was the first time a government won a seat off the opposition at a by-election in more than 100 years.

© AAP 2023

Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades is drawing closer, with King Charles to be officially crowned, in a display of pageantry dating back 1,000 years.

Charles succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth when she died last September and at 74, will become the oldest British monarch to have the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown placed on his head in London's Westminster Abbey.

His second wife Camilla, 75, will also be crowned queen during the two-hour ceremony which, while rooted in history, will attempt to present a forward-looking monarchy and nation.

"No other country could put on such a dazzling display - the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

"It's a proud expression of our history, culture, and traditions. A vivid demonstration of the modern character of our country. And a cherished ritual through which a new era is born."

Despite Sunak's enthusiasm, the coronation is taking place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy and questions about its finances.

The event will be on a smaller scale than that staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953, but will still aim to be spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world's largest colourless cut diamond.

After the service, Charles and Camilla will depart in the four-tonne Gold State Coach, riding back to Buckingham Palace in a procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations in ceremonial uniforms.

While about 100 heads of state and dignitaries will attend the ceremony, thousands of people are expected to line the streets and millions will watch across the globe.

Charles and Camilla will travel from Buckingham Palace to the service past cheering crowds, but also a major protest mounted by republicans. More than 11,000 police will be on duty ready to stamp out any attempted disruption.

Once at the abbey, much of the ceremony will feature elements dating as far back as King Edgar in 973.

But there will be new elements, including an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, and a gospel choir.

It is a Christian service but there will be an "unprecedented" greeting from leaders of other faiths and Charles's grandson Prince George and the grandchildren of Camilla will act as pages.

However, there will be no formal role for either Charles' younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

Charles will swear oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England before the most sacred part of the ceremony when he is anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem.

After Charles is presented with symbolic regalia, Welby will place the St Edward's Crown on his head and the congregation will cry "God save the King".

His eldest son and heir Prince William will then pay homage, kneeling before his father, placing his hands between those of the king and pledging his loyalty as "your liege man of life and limb".

Welby will call for all those in the abbey and across the nation to swear allegiance to Charles - a new element of the coronation that anti-monarchist group Republic has called offensive, forcing Welby to clarify it is an invitation not a command.

After returning to Buckingham Palace, the royals will make a traditional appearance on the balcony, with a fly-past by military aircraft.

Celebrations will continue on Sunday with nationwide street parties and a concert at the king's Windsor Castle home.

© RAW 2023