The husband and wife who threw firebombs at a University of Pittsburgh event about transgender issues were sentenced to prison and $50,000 in fines on January 6. The firebombs were thrown out of antipathy to Michael Knowles, who opposes what he calls “transgenderism”, and spoke at the event.
Brian and Krystal DiPippa entered a plea deal before a federal judge, pleading guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement, reports The Pitt News.
Brian DiPippa will spend five years in prison (with potentially 15% time off for good behavior), followed by three years of supervised release. Krystal DiPippa “was sentenced to three years of probation and 240 hours of community service to ‘restorative justice’ causes.”
Ironically, these “restorative justice” causes are hostile to incarceration, so effectively she will be helping lobby against the incarceration of criminals like her husband.
The Pippas were also ordered to pay $47,284 to a Pitt police officer who suffered a spinal injury during the crime, and were also ordered to pay $1,400 to the Pitt Police Department to cover damage to police department equipment.
The injured cop said, “I woke up on April 18 with the intent of helping and serving the community in any way that I could. Brian DiPippa woke up that morning with the sole purpose to attack and harm police officers.”
Three dozen people attended the sentencing hearing to show support for the DiPippas, many carrying trans flags. Michael Knowles objected to transgenderism at an event at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Pippas were indicted in June. They hurled an “incendiary device” during violent protests against the April 2024 debate between conservative Michael Knowles and libertarian Brad Polumbo on transgenderism and whether it should be regulated by law. Protesters also set a picture of Knowles on fire.
In response to the plea deal, Michael Knowles wrote, “Many thanks to the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who forced these left-wing terrorists to face at least some consequences for their actions. The judge was far too lenient, but it’s something.”
