Thread by @ryanjreilly

Hearing for former Virginia police officer Thomas Robertson is now underway.

Robertson’s son Hunter Robertson, 21, is now on the stand. The younger Robertson just got out of the Army a few weeks ago, he said.

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/1417832264990404615

On the stand, Hunter Robertson claimed that the M4 rifle found in father’s bedroom belongs to him. He said his gun was in his dad’s room because there’s a gun safe with magazines in there. Prosecutor asked for brief recess, saying the son has provided inconsistent accounts.

Hunter Robertson said he also had a Glock 19 in his truck in the driveway and claims again the M4 is his and wasn’t in the house when his father was home. Feds previously said Hunter Robertson "declined to provide any information” about the M4 during the search.

Judge is back on the stand. Prosecutor said that Hunter Robertson should have his own lawyer because he may have gotten himself into legal jeopardy. Prosecution won’t cross-examine the son, he’s dismissed.

Judge asks defense whether what Hunter Robertson testified — that there was a gun safe in his father’s bedroom with ammo — would be a Thomas Robertson’s pretrial release conditions on its own. Defense says that’s not a violation, then quickly moves on.

Thomas Robertson’s lawyer argues that his conditions of detention are “a little bit more extreme” than others because he’s in isolation because of his background as a cop.

“You’ve gotten his attention,” his lawyer says.

“What we have here is a defendant who just thinks he's above the law,” a federal prosecutor argues in the Thomas Robertson case. Says Robertson has not offered any explanation for why he “completely disregarded” his pretrial release orders.

Prosecutor: He’s shipping and transporting an arsenal of weapons and he’s advocating for violence, both in the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6 and as recently as last month.

Judge says he had been prepared to rule from the bench, but that both sides had thrown him “a couple curveballs” this morning. Says he’ll get a ruling out soon.