THREAD: An account may soon emerge questioning the role that the Proud Boys and a man named Ryan Samsel played in the tipping point confrontation of the Capitol attack.
(The J6 committee has focused on this moment.)
If that happens, here are a few things to bear in mind:
In his first interview w/the FBI--only weeks after J6-- Samsel said a Proud Boys leader, Joe Biggs, urged him to confront the cops.
Samsel also said a man named Ray Epps encouraged him to calm down when he did confront the cops.
nytimes.com/2021/10/07/us/…
nytimes.com/2022/05/05/us/…
Samsel is of course free to alter his account.
But if it happens here’s some context:
*Any contacts Samsel may have had w/the media took place w/o the knowledge or participation of his lawyer
*For 18 mths Samsel has been in jail where it can be perilous to be known as a snitch
Moreover Samsel has been fighting w/the government over receiving treatment for serious medical issues.
In recent court hearings, he has become increasingly upset w/the prosecutors & judge about what he sees as neglect of his health and conditions of confinement.
It's not clear if Samsel has actually recanted his initial account to the FBI. But recall
Defendants can say anything to the media w/o risk of penalty.
However by altering an account to the FBI a defendant could theoretically be exposed to new charges of lying to federal agents
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