Thread by @ZoeTillman

THRILLED to say hello from the federal courthouse, where I have not been since Nov. 2019 (not counting an ill-advised mat leave visit)! We're anticipating a video feed of the 2p plea hearing for Graydon Young in the Oath Keepers case, and then Anna Morgan-Lloyd's 2:30p sentencing

For Young's hearing, we're in an overflow courtroom with a live video feed. No photos allowed, alas. What I can see: Each of the tables in the courtroom are bordered with glass/plastic separators, everyone is wearing masks, it appears Young is there, in a suit and light blue mask

Judge Amit Mehta has taken the bench, wearing what looked like a black mask (goes with the robe), which he then removed

Mehta begins with something that he says will be under seal, so they're all talking now holding separate telephones and the courtroom mics are turned off

And they're back on, Mehta says it was some sort of "clarification" or "confirmation"

Young is now standing before the judge with one of his lawyers to be sworn in and answer questions from the judge in anticipation of formally entering his guilty plea

Young is pleading guilty to two counts from the indictment: conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding, both are felonies, the former has a max sentence of five years in prison and the latter has a max of 20 years (but we're waiting to learn his sentencing guidelines)

Young has promised to cooperate with the government as part of his plea deal, incl. testimony before the grand jury and at a trial, and interviews with law enforcement (and waived right to counsel)

Judge says that Young's estimated sentencing guidelines range is 63-78 months in prison, but notes that a preliminary calculation. That includes added levels because of the obstructive nature of what he's accused of doing on Jan. 6, and credit for accepting responsibility

Judge also notes that Young could get additional credit if the government is satisfied with his cooperation and files what's known as a 5K letter/motion advocating for a lower sentence, but stresses that's totally up to the govt to decide whether to do that

Jumping offline briefly to head over to another courtroom for Anna Morgan-Lloyd's sentencing, follow @kenbensinger for more on the rest of Young's plea hearing

Hello from Judge Royce Lamberth's courtroom, where sentencing is about to begin for Anna Morgan-Lloyd. This is the first sentencing in the Jan. 6 cases. She's pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor that has a max of 6 mos in jail, but will be arguing for no time behind bars

Lamberth is here in person, Morgan-Lloyd and all the lawyers are appearing by video (she's separate from wherever her lawyer Heather Shaner is). Recall Morgan-Lloyd will be entering her guilty plea and then will be sentenced right after that

Lamberth is on the bench, as was the case with Judge Mehta in the last case, the judge is the only person in the courtroom not wearing a mask

It's a surreal setup where Lamberth is on the bench but he's looking at/speaking into a laptop before him, and then there are screens up in the courtroom where we can see his face along with the lawyers and Morgan-Lloyd

Morgan-Lloyd is pleading guilty to the fourth misdemeanor count she faces, for "Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building," which carries a max sentence of 6 mos in jail (it's the same count we've seen in all the misdemeanor pleas so far in the Jan. 6 cases)

Lamberth holds up a copy of the signed plea agreement to the laptop camera for Morgan-Lloyd to see and confirm that it's her signature (she confirms it is)

As Lamberth goes over the max sentence possible (6 months in jail) and notes that her lawyer can't guarantee the outcome and that it's ultimately up to him, Morgan-Lloyd takes a deep breath and nods

AUSA Josh Rothstein is now explaining why the govt is supporting a sentence of three years of probation and no jail time. He's reading pretty much verbatim this section from the govt's sentencing memo

Rothstein says the govt wasn't involved in Morgan-Lloyd's lawyer assigning her books/movies on racism, antisemitism, etc: "We do not prosecute people based on their beliefs. We prosecute people for the criminal actions on Jan. 6"

Rothstein argues 3 years probation, 40 hours community service, restitution, and a host of what he describes as other "onerous" conditions, combined with the two days in jail she spent post-arrest, would serve the goal of general and specific deterrence

Morgan-Lloyd's lawyer Heather Shaner is up as her client watches on via video: "Ms. Lloyd was among the least culpable of the individuals who went from listening to the ex-president’s speech to walking down to the Capitol at his admonition."

Morgan-Lloyd appears to tear up and wipes her eyes as Shaner describes her reaction to reading Bryan Stevenson's book "Just Mercy." Shaner said M-L called to ask, Is it really that bad?, and Shaner replied, Yep, and sometimes a lot worse

Morgan-Lloyd, continuing to cry: "I would just like to apologize to the court, the American people, my family. I went there to support and show support for President Trump, and I’m ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day."

Lamberth is up, and indicates he's leaning towards leniency, saying the public may not agree with him "in giving you the break that I’m going to give you," but also says he doesn't want to "create the impression that probation is the automatic outcome here"

Lamberth: "I’m especially troubled by the accounts of some members of Congress that Jan. 6 was just a day of tourists walking through the Capitol. I don’t know what planet they were on"

Lamberth says he's troubled by accusations that J6 defs are being treated differently from people arrested last summer. Says he isn't responsible for what state prosecutors do, and noted AG Garland (his former colleague in this courthouse) has pledged to apply the law equally

Lamberth hasn't formally announced it yet, but basically has said he's going to approve probation and no jail time for Morgan-Lloyd. Says if he gets a report of a probation violation, "you come with your bag packed"

Now: Judge Lamberth has sentenced Jan. 6 defendant Anna Morgan-Lloyd to 36 months of probation, no jail time, after she pleads guilty to one misdemeanor count in connection with the Capitol insurrection. This is the first sentence handed down in these cases

Morgan-Lloyd is nodding along with a neutral expression as Lamberth announces the substance of her sentence, occasionally tilting her head forward towards the screen as she listens

Lamberth: "You’ve led a very good life... and I know I will never see you again."

"Never," Morgan-Lloyd says, smiling and shaking her head.

And that's a wrap, story to come shortly

Story, with more to come: The First Capitol Rioter To Be Sentenced Won’t Spend Any Time In Jail
buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…

In sentencing Jan. 6 defendant Anna Morgan-Lloyd to probation, the judge said she made it an "easy" case by accepting responsibility early. He warned other defendants wouldn't get the same outcome, and blasted GOP lawmakers for downplaying the violence buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…

"I don’t know what planet they were on," the judge said of members of Congress who'd compared the insurrection to tourists walking around buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…

Meanwhile, elsewhere at the courthouse

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/1407787820887023619