Thread by @ZoeTillman

A hearing is getting underway in DC federal court before Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey in a batch of Capitol insurrection cases — defendants are making their initial appearances in DC federal court. Stay tuned for updates

First up was Kevin Lyons, from Chicago area — he'd been released with conditions after arrest in that district, govt didn't seek detention so he'll stay free pending trial with the same general conditions as before, incl. that he can't go to DC except for court

In second case, Josiah Colt, who was granted release in Idaho post-arrest, federal public defender Michelle Peterson explains they're working with the US atty's office to come up with general release conditions for ppl charged with misdemeanors (big one being stay away from DC)

Peterson says that generally, they've been talking with the US atty's office about not seeking language in release conditions barring lawful possession of firearms for people charged with misdemeanors (pretrial services had recc'd barring all possession of firearms)

Prosecutor is being very careful to say that they're not committing to anything right now that would apply to all Capitol insurrection defs charged with misdemeanors, but for Colt, they're okay permitting lawful possession of firearms

Colt is being released on personal recognizance, must stay away from DC except for court/attorney meetings, barred from *illegally* possessing firearms (see above for more on that), must notify pretrial services if traveling in the US and must get court permission for intl travel

Douglas Sweet is the 3rd defendant, gets the same release conditions as previous defendants today — stay away from DC, has to notify pretrial services about travel out of home state (Virginia) and get court approval for intl travel, no illegal possession of firearms

Next defendant is Cindy Fitchett of Virginia, she is released on the same conditions as the others — stay away from DC, report travel out of home state/get court permission for intl travel, no possession of illegal firearms

For those asking why the court is specifying defs being released can't possess *illegal* firearms — it's to make clear they're permitted to legally possess firearms per laws of their home state, since sometimes firearm possession can be restricted as part of pretrial release

Next defendant is Robert Packer, the man photographed wearing a "Camp Auschwitz" sweatshirt at the Capitol — judge imposes roughly the same release conditions as other defs (DC stayaway, etc.), plus not being allowed to have an active passport (Packer says his is expired)

Next defendant is Bryan Betancur, the judge agrees with govt to hold him for 10 days because he was on probation in MD when he allegedly went to DC, so that needs to get sorted out (he allegedly told his probation officer he was going to DC to distribute bibles)

Betancur kept trying to interject during the hearing, and the judge kept advising him to speak with his lawyer first. At the end he tried one more time, and the judge strongly urged him not to say anything: "The prosecutor is listening and gosh the whole world is listening"

The next defendant is Peter Harding — govt is asking for some kind of location monitoring, noting he was arrested at a friend's house with a lot of cash, clothes, cell phones. Defense contends he was going to stay with a friend to avoid being harassed at home by the media

Harding attempts to interject and say he contacted the FBI immediately, and the judges cuts him off and advises him that it's not a good idea for him to talk right now

Had to jump off this hearing but per @alanfeuer Harding will be released with electronic monitoring

https://twitter.com/alanfeuer/status/1351652548952907777?s=19