Thread by @innercitypress

OK - in run up #insurrectionBlues cases before DDC Magistrate Judge Meriweather, courtroom deputy tells Zoomer with "expletive as name" to "change your name or removed." Uh, Cohen v California? Inner City Press will live tweet, below. Song: soundcloud.com/innercitypress…

Still the cases haven't formally started. Lawyer for accused insurrectionist Anthony Antonio tells someone (the prosecutor), You look like Chris Hayes of MSNBC. An advocacy tactic?

Now a "Mister Copeland" on the multi-defendant call is shouting, I'm in my car, I have nothing to hide!
He is told, repeatedly, not to talk on the public line.
I have nothing to hide, Copeland says.
#insurrectionBlues soundcloud.com/innercitypress…

Voice: "Can't the clerk mute Mr Copeland?"
Deputy: You're not his lawyer. So, no.
Voice: I'm just a person who wants to get some work done.
Copeland: You are evil!

From DOJ website: "Copeland was arrested on April 29 and had his initial appearance the same afternoon. He was released on condition."
Courtroom deputy says Copeland will be processed last today. Thread will continue

Confirmed: Copeland of "you are evil" is
Landon Kenneth COPELAND, calling in by phone for initial appearance in DDC, photo below

As Judge Meriweather runs through general condition of release for other defendants, Copeland cuts in -
"I have questions about my conditions" .. I am free
Deputy: This is not the time for you to speak.

Deputy: We are not going to get anywhere like this. We can't have these interruptions, or we're not going to get through this calendar today.
Copeland: I'll keep my mouth shut, I promise.
Deputy: Or I'll mute you.
Copeland: Yes, ma'am.

Copeland: I just want to ask, if any of this negotiable?
Deputy: You are going to be muted if you don't stop right now. We'll call on your lawyer later.

Now processed, with less fanfare, is William Tryon previously released by a Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of New York. His Magistrates' Court case number is lower than Copeland, but he is not listed on DOJ's web page of cases.

Another straight forward appearance: Anthony Antonio. He was living in Delaware but now working on South Carolina for the past two months. His lawyer wants a loosening of conditions of release, says, "I'll keep it to four minutes or less... My client has no record"

Anthony Antonio's lawyer says his client work for a "solar company, Excel." They moved him to Illinois where, during the lockdown, "he became hooked on Fox-mania."
Copeland: I would like to object! That's not pertinent!

[These multi-defendant presentments may not be a good idea - Copeland is objecting to Antonio's lawyer pleading "Fox-itis"]
Antonio's lawyer: He stood on the steps exhorting peaceful protest. He smiled at police.
Copeland: I object!
Judge: Please mute Mr. Copeland

Antonio's lawyer: I will remember this hearing forever. My client came to me on Jan 20. I was not going to represent anyone from that mess, I was going to say, "I don't represent you people."
#YouPeople

Antonio's lawyer: I contacted my Congress-person, to make him available at impeachment hearing. But they called no witnesses.
[Imagine Copeland on mute]

Antonio's lawyer: Now my client works for a roofing company in South Carolina. He has to travel to a seminar, May 15-19 in Utah.
[He could visit Copeland]

Antonio's lawyer calls his client "a cooperating witness with the FBI." Really? Says, needs to go to Texas in June and another one in September.
[Particularly bad idea to have a joint proceeding of a self-declared cooperating witness with a defendant like Copeland

Antonio's lawyer is laying it on thick - says he knows Biden and would ask him to sponsor him into the DC Bar. Except Biden is not admitted. Also agrees to waiving Speedy Trial Act time, so that "the bad guys" can be prosecuted before his client.

Now as routine insurrection cases from Kansas are processed, a friend of Copeland calls in and speaks up. Deputy is referring her to AT&T listen-only line.
But I like to listen, she says. Copeland is soon: countdown

Copeland starts with a bang: You people f*cked this up, he says. "You're going to give me a psych eval. I don't like 70% of my income going to the government. F*ck all of you!

Copeland has been muted.
Judge: Profanity is not allowed to be used in court proceedings. Whatever grievances you have with Federal law enforcement or the court, this is not the time to raise it. It does you a dis-service. We expect order in the court.

Judge: Counsel, if I put you in a break-out room I could provide it. I would have asked the Marshals to remove him. We have other defendants.
Lawyer: He might benefit from a break-out with the attorney he met with in Utah, Mr. Stout. We don't have a relationship

Mr. Stout: I'm available.
Deputy: OK, we'll do another case first.
Inner City Press will stay on this Copeland case -
thread will continue, here's one song but there will be a new one on Copeland, weekend at latest soundcloud.com/innercitypress…

Copeland: I wanna talk in open court you mother f*ckers!
Deputy: I thought I had muted that line.

Update: Judge Meriweather put Copeland in a breakout room, said proceeding would resume. Then the AT&T line cut off. Now both of her lines are on AT&T hold music. No announcement as to whether Copeland came back on, or the resolution. Like the withheld videos...

And we're back!
Judge Meriweather: I was going to ask him questions about his employment, to assess his eligibility for court appointed counsel. He said he makes $15/hour. That is sufficient for me to find him eligible. So I will not inquiry more. I have him muted

Judge Meriweather: It's been a long afternoon. Mr. Stout? Can you unmute Mr. Stout? Everyone except Mr. Copeland.
Stout: I have attempted to speak with Mr. Copeland. I believe he is in a crisis.

Stout: In my conversations with him, I don't think he's being intentionally belligerent. I don't think he's competent to proceed right now.
Judge: He disconnected from the hearing the moment you said he is in crisis. I'm staying on the record even with him absent

Pre-trial services: Utah tells us he has PTSD.
AUSA: They met with him on Tuesday.
Judge Meriweather: I was not able to ask even the preliminary questions.
AUSA: Mr. Copeland laughed strangely... He smelled of marijuana.

Stout: Last time he muttered, but not outburst. He seemed amused at the charges. Now I think he's in crisis.
AUSA: Before his appearance in Utah, he posted on Facebook, They are trying to hunt us down. This ends with the government bombing its own people

AUSA Romano: Perhaps he knew we would use his Facebook posts against him.
Stout: I never told him. I couldn't get there.
Pre-trial: I didn't tell him. I couldn't even access the complaint...
2d Lawyer: He was shot in combat. He has PTSD. He needs a Utah lawyer

Judge Meriweather: Mr. Copeland is trying to call back in. If he behaves the same way, we could do the competency review. We have a contract with a DC doctor. It can be done virtually.

Judge Meriweather: Mr Tran, you may admit Mr. Copeland.
Copeland: In the past f*cking four hours --
silence.

Copeland: I know your phone system. I worked on it. I don't care. You're killing your own people. You're stealing 70% of their money --
Judge: Mr. Tran, mute him.

Judge: How do we sent an order to him, for competency hearing? Has his address been verified?
His mother was on earlier, she was on video. We don't know what his relationship with her is like, if he can connect from here. Belligerent does not mean incompetent

Judger Meriweather: We have Doctor Grant. Who do they have in Utah?
[Inner City Press knows a defendant @SDNYLIVE who has been flown all around the country for competency review, getting quarantined at each stop. He's stayed in touch via CORR-LINKS - very sad]

Stout: The pre-trial officer is texting me. I'll have him call in. It's a small legal community. We all know each other. Can he Zoom in?
Voice: This should be under seal. The Press has been posting.
[Any opportunity to be heard?

Pre-Trial Officer: I don't know how we do competency reviews out here in Utah.
Judge: Do you have info?
Officer: Yes
Clerk: I'll just remove the public line.
"You have been added to the waiting room. You cannot listen until the host admits you." Chipper Zoom muzak

They've back.
Judge Meriweather: I believe the appropriate next step is to refer him to the dept of behavioral health for a one-time interview by Zoom, next week. Then a report, and another proceeding.
Inner City Press will follow this case matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/in-dc-insurr…

Judge Meriweather: Next hearing May 19. I'd prefer it to be a stand alone and not with other defendants.
[That was a mistake today, Copeland waiting & listening to Antonio's lawyer brag about knowing Biden, etc].
Now a request he be sent to mental health in Utah

Judge Meriweather: Mr. Copeland has texted and said he wants to address the Court. I don't think that would be productive. He could put it in writing. I am adjourning.
InnerCityPress.com will stay on these cases soundcloud.com/innercitypress…