Hours after the end of Donald J. Trump’s presidency, the Capitol siege prosecutions resumed with the charging of his gun-toting backer with a website awash in antisemitic, conspiratorial and extremist imagery.
Samuel Fisher has a hearing soon.
lawandcrime.com/u-s-capitol-si…
Samuel Fisher has a hearing soon.
lawandcrime.com/u-s-capitol-si…
Fisher's website, listed in court papers but not shared here, showed him posting Clown Pepe memes, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and QAnon-style fantasies calling President Biden and his family "Degenerate Criminal Pedophiles."
Fisher's initial appearance is now beginning, after a brief delay.
He was arrested at around 8 a.m. Eastern Time in Manhattan.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Aaron presiding.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Aaron presiding.
Meanwhile, the rioter accused of assaulting Daniel Hodges—the heroic Metropolitan Police Department Officer crushed in the Capitol door in that agonizing viral video—also has been arrested.
@LambeJerry reports. lawandcrime.com/u-s-capitol-si…
@LambeJerry reports. lawandcrime.com/u-s-capitol-si…
Fisher's prosecutor argues for detention as "necessary" on the grounds of flight risk and danger to the community.
Defense counsel seeks bail.
Defense counsel seeks bail.
AUSA Benjamin Schrier for the govt suggests that more serious charges may be coming "in the near future," including felony charges.
The two charges right now are a function of the speed prosecutors felt they needed to act, Schrier says.
The two charges right now are a function of the speed prosecutors felt they needed to act, Schrier says.
Schrier: "Defendant doesn't just have the ability to flee, he has places to go outside this district."
Fisher spent significant time in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York, where he bought his guns, the prosecutor says.
Fisher spent significant time in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York, where he bought his guns, the prosecutor says.
Schrier:
Fisher said he was "evacuating" the city out of "disgust" with it, leading an "itinerant" lifestyle, living out of his car and bouncing from one location to another.
(He's arguing for flight risk.)
Fisher said he was "evacuating" the city out of "disgust" with it, leading an "itinerant" lifestyle, living out of his car and bouncing from one location to another.
(He's arguing for flight risk.)
Schrier:
Fisher was arrested with three firearms.
"He has an incentive to flee. He has the means to flee. He has the ability to flee."
He moves onto dangerousness.
Fisher was arrested with three firearms.
"He has an incentive to flee. He has the means to flee. He has the ability to flee."
He moves onto dangerousness.
Schrier:
The defendant appears to have posted a photo of himself on the steps of the Capitol.
Fisher's rant on his blog shows "he was there for the express purpose of being violent," the prosecutor says, reading this screed.
The defendant appears to have posted a photo of himself on the steps of the Capitol.
Fisher's rant on his blog shows "he was there for the express purpose of being violent," the prosecutor says, reading this screed.
Schrier:
"I think that paints a very clear picture of the purpose that the defendant was in D.C. for" when he was on the steps of the Capitol.
The prosecutor moves onto Fisher's Facebook posts.
"I think that paints a very clear picture of the purpose that the defendant was in D.C. for" when he was on the steps of the Capitol.
The prosecutor moves onto Fisher's Facebook posts.
Schier calls this "perhaps most chilling" of Fisher's statements.
When the government executed Fisher's arrest warrant, the FBI recovered a semiautomatic rifle, a number of other guns, and bullet proof vets, prosecutors said.
These are not about self-defense, he adds.
When the government executed Fisher's arrest warrant, the FBI recovered a semiautomatic rifle, a number of other guns, and bullet proof vets, prosecutors said.
These are not about self-defense, he adds.
The weapons were found in Fisher's house and car.
The prosecutor says the timing would make his bail even more dangerous: "Today is literally Inauguration Day," Schier notes, adding that the coming days are particularly sensitive.
The prosecutor says the timing would make his bail even more dangerous: "Today is literally Inauguration Day," Schier notes, adding that the coming days are particularly sensitive.
Schier:
"This is a shorter term determination that the court is being asked to make."
Fisher's defense attorney says her client would like to get to D.C. as soon as possible, playing down the case against her client as two misdemeanors.
The govt said felonies may be coming.
"This is a shorter term determination that the court is being asked to make."
Fisher's defense attorney says her client would like to get to D.C. as soon as possible, playing down the case against her client as two misdemeanors.
The govt said felonies may be coming.
His public defender Tamara Giwa: "Mr. Fisher's political beliefs are not a crime."
She proposes a bond and monitoring.
"He is eager to be presented there and to move forward with this case."
Schrier responds to the defense that Fisher's comments aren't crimes:
"That may not be true considering that he is encouraging others to commit violent acts."
"He is eager to be presented there and to move forward with this case."
Schrier responds to the defense that Fisher's comments aren't crimes:
"That may not be true considering that he is encouraging others to commit violent acts."
Schrier:
"This is not just someone who possessed these weapons" but may have used them "under the right circumstances."
"This is not just someone who possessed these weapons" but may have used them "under the right circumstances."
Judge Aaron DENIES bail to Fisher, adding that the FBI's discovery of firearms and bullet proof vests established his danger to the community.
Proceedings are adjourned.
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