Big hearing at 11am. Accused Proud Boy & Jan 6 conspirator Charles Donohoe argues for release from jail
Donohoe will argue he's an Eagle Scout, a former Marine, former military contractor & father of 5 year old son
Feds want him held... check out their argument (thread) ==>
Justice Dept says Charles Donohoe "commands influence over a group with a demonstrated desire for violent confrontation, even home detention does little to protect the community"
There's more...
Justice Dept argues Donohoe not only plotted ahead of Jan 6, but was part of front wave that breached the police line... and they say he bragged about
Per feds, Donohoe it made him "feel like a complete warrior" ... "We took it over unarmed"
They allege Donohoe shared intel & guidance about what to expect from the DC National Guard.... in messages sent two days before the Insurrection
And the feds say Donohoe was part of the planning.... urged fellow Proud Boys not to wear identifiable colors
** Here's what I'm watching for: Because feds say Donohoe is a risk of organizing future incidents, will there be any reference from prosecutors or judge to the Big Lie? Or those who promote it?
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Judge sentences Capitol riot defendant Ryan Nichols to 5 years prison and a whopping $200,000 fine
Feds argued he was equipped w/ ballistic plate & crowbar.. "proclaimed on Facebook that “we’re bringing the wrath of God, and there’s not a F**ING thing you can do to stop it,” “If Pence doesn’t do the right thing, WE FIGHT"
Feds argued Nichols was "featured in video of the so-called choir of January 6 defendants, although it is unclear if the defendant has received any funds from his participation because organizers stated the Choir’s 'proceeds do not benefit families of people who assaulted a police officer”
Justice Dept alleged Nichols posted on Christmas Eve 2020: "Any Democrat found guilty of treason should be executed.. Any Republican found guilty of treason should be VIOLENTLY executed!... It’ll be fixed January 6th, or the Patriots will fix it ourselves"
Some interesting exchanges at House Subcommittee on Weaponization of Federal Govt hearing just now .. into Biden Administration efforts to combat COVID misinformation and conspiracy theories...
At outset of hearing, one House Democrat called for the disbanding of the committee, "It is safe to say this effort is not even in the same league as the January 6th Committee"
(MORE)
House Republicans, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the Biden Administration of using "bias" seeking to kick people off of Facebook and "censorship" as Admin. countered COVID claims on social media
(MORE)
Biden Administration COVID advisor Andy Slavitt argued about the successes of the President in responding to COVID pandemic:
"The number of COVID deaths were reduced over the 139 days of my tenure by 90%, from over 4000 on day 1 to 400—the lowest since the pandemic began. By June 2021, COVID-19 had dropped from the top cause of deaths to the 7th"
Scorching criticisms of Supreme Court handling of Trump "presidential immunity" argument from Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), a Jan 6 Select Cmte member, on MSNBC
"Rather than decide the case before them, they are going off on tangents that will lead to further delay"
(MORE)
Rep. Lofgren (D-CA): "It can't be in our system that a president who tried to overturn the government to stay in power will not be tried before the next election. This is really outrageous."
Rep. Lofgren (more) to MSNBC: "He has indicated an intention to be dictator on day one. He said that he intends to.. terminate parts of the constitution. He doesn't intend to live under the rule of law. He is a grave threat to the constitutional order. It looks like his partners in crime will be the Supreme Court"
STAND BY: I'll be in studio for our @CBSNews special coverage of the Supreme Court arguments on Trump's claim of "presidential immunity" in the 2020 election conspiracy case
It's worth noting: "Presidential Immunity" is just one of the claims Trump made to disrupt the Special Counsel's prosecution for election subversion and Trump's ties to the Jan 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol
(more)
1 - Trump's defense *unsuccessfully* sought for Judge Tanya Chutkan to recuse herself, arguing she'd made statements alluding to Trump in her other Jan 6 cases
Including when she said one particular Capitol rioter had a: "blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day.”
HEADS UP: Sentencing is beginning now in high-level Capitol riot case of Andrew Taake
He was accused of brandishing metal whip against police… and of assaulting police with chemical spray and causing injuries
(More)
Judge Carl Nichols has just read an excerpt from a police officer’s victim impact statement. Officer said he/she was “immediately blinded” by the chem spray… and that it felt “like living death”.. and officer struck head on scaffolding after being sprayed
Taake sits at defense table in orange jail jumpsuit scribbling notes as defense attorney argues over sentencing guidelines. He’ll address court later.
Ahead of today's sentencing of Jan 6 misdemeanor defendant Kimberly Dragoo, feds note post-arrest statements:
"Once Kimberly’s federal charges were unsealed and reported on by a local news organization, she reposted the news alert and commented that “No charges have been filed!!!"
They say she also wrote to local school board to say she was "innocent until proven guilty"... two months *after* she pleaded guilty
Hoo boy. This hearing didn't go quietly. A set of arguments and proclamations unlike I've heard in other Jan 6 cases
Stand by
Kim & Steve Dragoo of Missouri pleaded guilty to misdemeanor parading charge. They entered Capitol *twice* amid the mob, which often captures the attention of Justice Dept & judges
Their defense lawyer is a familiar name: Bruce Castor, who represented Donald Trump at impeachment