Many defendants are jailed before trial, but Jan. 6 rioters are *free* after indictments for:

R. Sanford, attacking police

C. Connell, attacking police

C. Alberts, *loaded* gun at Capitol

D. Blair, attacking police with a stick flying a Confederate flag

-- @SeemaAhmad40
Many capitol rioters indicted for violence "have been released -- while the Black and brown clients I represent" are *almost always jailed* before trial.

- Federal public defender @SeemaAhmad40:

nbcnews.com/think/opinion/…
Bail release can change an entire case, but it's not routine.

So consider the wide-eyed disbelief of seeing "so many Capitol rioters receiving bail release in cases involving *violence.*"

nbcnews.com/think/opinion/… @NBCNewsTHINK @SeemaAhmad40
Wow.

"In 10 years of practicing criminal federal defense, I have had only one or two clients released before trial, and that was for petty mail theft - not participating in a *violent insurrection.*"

nbcnews.com/think/opinion/…
Capitol insurrectionists walking free is another "illustration of the privilege not.. afforded to defendants of color. My clients — in nonviolent drug and immigration cases — experience a criminal justice system that is harsh & heartless."

- @SeemaAhmad40 nbcnews.to/38SkDbH
Biden now has the opportunity to address racial disparities in bail outcomes, charges, plea offers and sentencing recommendations...

All criminal defendants — not just those who are white and privileged — deserve fairness.

- Public Defender @SeemaAhmad40
Recommending this piece by friend who is a longtime public defender and civil rights advocate:

nbcnews.to/38SkDbH @SeemaAhmad40

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More from @AriMelber

13 Feb
After winning a key vote to call witnesses, Democrats back down and decide to call no witnesses at Trump's impeachment trial.
In two impeachment trials of Donald Trump, Democrats widely insisted witnesses were key to a full and fair trial.

At the first trial, Republicans stopped any witnesses.

At the second trial, Democrats stopped any witnesses.
It's an unforced error to win a vote to add witnesses and then back down

It's contradictory, and for trial advocacy, it draws attention to the conflict between arguing this is 'crucial for the Republic,' but also this 'Must be rushed because senators made up their mind anyway.'
Read 4 tweets
15 Jan
Many believe Trump's implausible lie that he won,
"because it takes a tremendous amount of work to educate citizens to resist the powerful pull of believing what they already believe, or what others around them believe, or what would make sense of their own previous choices..."
As far back as *Aristotle* there are warnings of the acute risk "a wealthy and talented demagogue could all too easily master the minds of the populace, [so] the framers of the Constitution instituted a system of checks and balances..."
...That is why it's crucial America understand... "the responsibility for Trump’s push to overturn an election *must* be shared by a very large number of Republican members of Congress."

Historian @TimothyDSnyder

nytimes.com/2021/01/09/mag… (overlaps @ezraklein )
Read 9 tweets
12 Jan
There still "hasn't been an official briefing or press conference from the Capitol Police since the attack." ( @alexi )

Remember, law enforcement briefings are *routine* for far smaller security breaches and investigations.
Law enforcement briefings are *supposed* to provide transparency, deterrence against would-be offenders, and public safety information that can be vital when a crime or plot may pose future risk.
A reminder of the obvious:

Even if Donald Trump were *not* involved in encouraging the criminal rioters, *any* massive, deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol would still be one of the greatest homeland security failings of any modern administration.
Read 5 tweets
6 Jan
Many people at the Capitol right now have legal exposure for committing federal crimes.

Here is some of the relevant law...
It is a violation of federal law to trespass -- entering or remaining in a building that a person is not licensed to enter.
It is a violation of federal law to enter a restricted government building, or to engage in disorderly contact near it that impedes government business.
Read 9 tweets
6 Nov 20
MSNBC cut away from The President's remarks tonight for a fact check...



(1/x)
And we continued reporting the facts and law about the counting process, and then heard from a Secretary of State about the counting process -- and the actual legal requirements for when there are legitimate legal questions regarding the vote.
There are also some important points about President Trump's current legal position - *apart* from what he claimed tonight (some of which does not bear repeating)...

#Thread ...
Read 12 tweets
4 Nov 20
As I just reported on air in our Election Coverage...
What we just heard from The President is horrific for democracy.

Mark down the time: The President of the United States declaring, We want all voting to stop.
Constitutionally, that is *not* how it works. It is wrong, legally.
Read 15 tweets

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