The filing just submitted in the Jan 6 prosecution of Ryan Samsel of Pennsylvania might be the most striking, horrific and brutal accusations I've read so far in *any* of these 460+ cases.
(THREAD)
Ryan Samsel had been accused of knocking over barrier & police officer on Jan 6, knocking her unconscious
Last week, Samsel requested release from DC jail, citing injuries he allegedly suffered in beating there
Check out the response from the Justice Dept to his request ==>
Prosecutors say Samsel has history of violence against women:
Accused of choking & beating his pregnant girlfriend in 2011.. Smashing hot pizza in victim's face, pouring beer over head, throwing her into canal, holding her head under
(more) ...
Feds: "In 2009, Samsel was convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment after he held a victim
against her will for five hours, choking her to the point of unconsciousness, pushing her, beating
her, and chipping her teeth."
Feds also allege Samsel attempted to run a woman off the road in a dispute over $60 in 2006. They say he punched in her windshield and threatened he "knew where she lived"
(Feds say he was convicted)
Feds: "In 2015, Samsel was yet again convicted of simple assault...different victim.. recounting numerous assaults by Samsel, including.... at one point, he had choked her to the point of unconsciousness and that, at another point, he hit her so hard she had a hematoma"
In 2019, feds say another woman accused Samsel:
"Different victim came forward, recounting several incidents of Samsel choking her to the point of unconsciousness and breaking into her house and assaulting her. She described waking up vomiting, with him still in the house"
Samsel remains in the DC jail.... where he says he was beaten in March
I'm waiting for court to schedule a detention hearing on his request for release from custody before trial
I'll stay on this
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FLASH: Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC) is on Senate floor and he's about to make a motion for "unanimous consent" to expedite the hanging of the January 6th plaque at the Capitol
To honor the police heroes
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) speaks first: "In 2022, we passed a law .. saying we'd hang this plaque"
"I'm here to team up with my colleague from North Carolina to have a strategy to make sure we *do* have this plaque up"
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is now speaking. He recalls that he was on floor in Senate chamber on Jan 6.
Tillis says prior law requiring Jan 6 plaque had a "technical" issue that requires clarity. He says issue can be quickly cured
Some pardoned rioters are retracing their march from the Ellipse to the Capitol
Some victims are part of a 10am hearing organized by House Democrats
And: Anger, toxicity and confrontation continue to define Jan 6. Still.
Poltico Playbook on Jan 6 just now:
“Today D.C., and much of America, is deeply divided about what happened.
That lack of consensus represents a triumph, of sorts, for Donald Trump, and stands as testament to his unmatched ability both to reshape political narratives and to carry his supporters to extraordinary positions”
Injured DC police officer Dan Hodges says the Jan 6 denialism remains rampant
“Everything on January 6 occurred exactly as it appeared to. There’s no conspiracy here, there’s no, it wasn’t a “Fed-surrection”
NEW: House Speaker Mike Johnson – after two years of deflecting questions on the matter – is now arguing that the legally-required January 6 plaque must be re-considered
(more)
In a statement tonight, a spokesperson for Speaker Johnson says:
"As written, the statute authorizing this plaque is not implementable, and proposed alternatives devised by Democrat House staff, not members, also do not comply with the statute. If Democrats are serious about commemorating the work of USCP officers, they are free to work with the appropriate committees of jurisdiction to develop a framework for proper vetting and consideration, just as the House does for Congressional Gold Medals, commemorative gold coins, and similar ceremonial responsibilities”
Federal law required the Jan 6 plaque to be hung on Capitol grounds by March 2023
ALERT: House Judiciary Committee releases 250+ page transcript of its interview of Special Counsel Jack Smith
Smith testified: "January 6th was an attack on the structure of our democracy in which over 140 heroic law enforcement officers were assaulted. Over 160 individuals later pled guilty to assaulting police that day. Exploiting that violence, President Trump and his associates tried to call Members of Congress in furtherance of their criminal scheme, urging them to further delay certification of the 2020 election. I did not choose those Members, President Trump did"
(MORE)
Special Counsel Jack Smith interview w/ House Judiciary Committee (MORE)
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH): "You just made some pretty definitive statements about your belief that President Trump was guilty of these charges. Is that correct?"
Jack Smith: "Yes, I believe we had proof beyond a reasonable doubt in both cases"
Jordan: "And doesn't the Justice Manual prohibit prosecutors from asserting that a defendant is guilty of something before a jury makes a determination?"
Smith: "When a case is pending, yes."
When he was asked about other election disputes (including 2000 election), Jack Smith told House Judiciary Cmte:
"There is no historical analog for what President Trump did in this case. As we said in the indictment, he was free to say that he thought he won the election. He was even free to say falsely that he won the election"