Thread by @MacFarlaneNews

STANDBY: Court hearing in 15 minutes in case of Thomas Sibick. Sibick is seeking release from pretrial detention. He's accused of assaulting & stealing badge of DC police officer Michael Fanone on Jan 6

Sibick has pleaded not guilty. Court appearance IN PERSON in DC court

Sibick's attorney says Jan 6 was first time Sibick went to a Trump rally and thought it'd be his last time seeing Trump

Judge interrupts to say the case isn't about attendance at the Trump rally... but about the breach at the Capitol

Sibick's lawyer says his client has been in the "hole' for two weeks in DC jail.... *voluntarily* because he wants to stay away from other Jan 6 defendants

Lawyer alleges other Jan 6 defendants claim Sibick is too close to the jail officers

Prosecutors argue Sibick not only buried the stolen police badge of DC police officer in his yard (in upstate NY) but repeatedly lied to law enforcement

Judge is taking break to consider arguments and motions. Standby.

Here comes the judge:

She says video exhibit in case shows Sibick "deliberately moving" toward police officer... "he took his own unique, independent purposeful action"

Judge: There's no movement in video consistent with effort... to push people other people away from officer... or protect the officer.

(As Sibick had argued)

Judge specifies Sibick posed for picture with a police riot shield

Judge: "In the end, the video is inconsistent with the defendant's characterization of it"

Judge Amy Berman Jackson: "His candor bears" on decision of whether to release Sibick from jail

She's now raising questions about Sibick's candor

Judge emphasizes that if it was a DC resident facing a similar accusation (assaulting police, taking police radio and badge) .. "we wouldn't even be here" ...at a hearing seeking pretrial release