In superseding indictment, feds allege group of Jan 6 defendants *conspired* as early as December 2020.... including to "stop the steal and stand behind Trump when he decides to cross the rubicon"
Feds say one of the accused "Solicited his Facebook community for donations from other “patriots” asking them for financial support in exchange for a “personal thank you video shot on location in Washington, D.C."
Ronald Sandlin and Nathan DeGrave have pleaded NOT GUILTY to charges
Feds allege the pair and a 3rd defendant (who's pleaded guilty in earlier case) traveled together to DC in rental car w/ guns, ammo, walkie talkies, taser, knives, mace, paramliitary gear
Feds allege the group recorded a video at a Maryland motel early on Jan 6.. discussing whether to carry guns into DC
In later video, Sandlin allegedly said "freedom is paid for with blood"... "there is going to be violence"
In court filing, prosecutors allege Degrave said, "If sh** goes down, if Pence does what we think he is going to do. Then we are here to defend this city, defend any city in this country"
Feds say video shows defendant saying "It's Dr. Death in the building and it's about to go down" ..... while another yelled "breach the building" "f*** the GOP"
Feds allege the group was searching and headed for the Senate chamber
The superseding indictment details alleged assaults once they confronted police ...
Eventually one defendant sat in Pence's chair, while another shouted for mob to take papers, per feds
!! And ... then there's this:
Feds say one defendant stopped to live stream himself smoking marijuana...
While another allegedly posted to Facebook claim he was sitting in Pelosi's chair ....... even though he'd been near the US Senate
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FLASH: Law firm Jenner and Block sues Trump Administration over executive order targeting the firm
They allege order is unlawful and a violation of first amendment
Jenner and Block:
“Order threatens not only Jenner, but also its clients and the legal system itself. Our Constitution, top to bottom, forbids attempts by the government to punish citizens and lawyers based on the clients they represent, the positions they advocate, the opinions they voice, and the people with whom they associate.”
Jenner and Block (more):
“These orders send a clear message to the legal profession: Cease certain representations adverse to the government and renounce the Administration’s critics—or suffer the consequences. The orders also attempt to pressure businesses and individuals to question or even abandon their associations with their chosen counsel,
and to chill bringing legal challenges at all.”
Chief Judge James Boasberg says the Justice Dept was late and evasive with its filing today, answering his questions about last weekend's deportation flight of alleged Venezuelan gang members
New deadlines set... *and* there's a hearing TOMORROW at 230pm
According to Judge Boasberg's order moments ago: The Dept of Justice had an acting ICE field officer argue "I understand that Cabinet Secretaries are currently actively considering whether to invoke the state secrets privilege over the other facts requested by the Court’s order. Doing so is a serious matter that requires careful consideration of national security and foreign relations, and it cannot properly be undertaken in just 24 hours.”
Judge James Boasberg is pretty blunt in his response to today's argument from the Justice Dept:
President Biden issues pre-emptive pardons to "General Mark A. Milley, Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee"
(MORE)
President Biden statement: "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country"
President Biden (MORE): "The Select Committee fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth. Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions"
Notable excerpts from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s letter to Justice Dept accompanying final report on Trump 2020 election conspiracy case:
“While we were not able to bring the cases we charged to trial, I believe the fact that our team stood up for the rule of law matters. I believe the example our team set for others to fight for justice without regard for the personal costs matters. The facts, as we uncovered them in our investigation and as set forth in my Report, matter. Experienced prosecutors know that you cannot control outcomes, you can only do your job the right way for the right reasons. I conclude our work confident that we have done so, and that we have met fully our obligations to the Department and to our country”
Jack Smith letter (more):
“And to all who know me well, the claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable”
Jack Smith letter to Justice Dept (more):
“It is equally important for me to make clear that nobody within the Department of Justice ever sought to interfere with, or improperly influence, my prosecutorial decision making”