MORE: Troy Anthony Smocks – who threatened Congress on Parler but wasn't actually at the Capitol – was sentenced to 14 months in prison today. It's the longest sentence handed down yet in connection w/ the January 6 #CapitolRiot. wusa9.com/article/news/n…@wusa9@EricFlackTV
Before people jump the gun on this... Smocks is only the second felony defendant sentenced in the case and he has a *lengthy* criminal history that includes 18 prior convictions for fraud and impersonating federal officers. wusa9.com/article/news/n…
Troy Smocks was actually the felony defendant facing the second-lowest recommended sentence so far. The defendants in orange below are the Oath Keepers who have pleaded guilty so far to #CapitolRiot charges. Smocks has just been sentenced first.
Obviously some of these sentencing dates got pushed back and I need to clean up my sheet.
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Good morning in #CapitolRiot land, where we have a sentencing hearing starting shortly for Lori Ann and Thomas Vinson before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. @wusa9@EricFlackTV
DOJ says it is "not cooperation to provide false information, misleading information and half-truths, and that is what happened in this case, particularly with Lori Vinson." Also points to her "clearly doubling down statements" about January 6 to the media.
In an interview, Lori Vinson said she felt what she did on January 6 was "justified" and that she would "do it again tomorrow."
Troy Smocks will be sentenced today at 1:45 p.m. for threats against Congress on Parler. The DOJ declined to ask for a specific sentence, instead asking that he be given time "in the low end" of the guideline range, which is 8-16 months. Docs: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…#CapitolRiot
Troy Smocks' attorney, John Machado, argues the 9 months his client has already served is sufficient. He's asking for time served and for him to be removed from the "No-Fly" list. Docs: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Alright, the sentencing hearing for Troy Smocks is getting started before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. As stated above, if Chutkan hews to the requests from both the DOJ and the defense, it could result in a sentence of time served for Smocks.
In a hearing now before the House Judiciary Committee, Chairman @RepJerryNadler tells AG Merrick Garland it's not enough "just to right the ship," he must also help the country "understand and reckon with the violence and lawlessness" of the last administration.
"Across the country, state legislatures are restricting the right to vote in service of the most cynical of political motives," @RepJerryNadler says. "Congress owes you... the tools you need to consign these nakedly undemocratic efforts to the dustbin of history."
Rep. @Jim_Jordan says the FBI has opened "a snitch line for parents" and then starts ranting about the Steele Memo.
Ok, we're getting started with this hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Witcher was indicted on a felony count of obstruction, which Barnard was not. Starting off with him, then, since Contreras says his plea is "a little bit more involved." #CapitolRiot
Jeffrey Witcher tells Contreras he was "1 credit away from an associate's degree." Also says he has been diagnosed with service-related PTSD (he was in the U.S. Marine Corps).
Jeffrey Witcher likely got the felony obstruction charge thanks to this video the FBI found on his cell phone.
Ok, we're getting started with Anthime Gionet's status hearing. Magistrate Judge Michael Harvey is asking for someone from pretrial services who's been directly supervising him to call in.
"I want to hear from her what's been going on," he says.
Judge Harvey says pretrial services has filed a noncompliance report for Anthime Gionet. His PO is on the call. Pretrial services is asking for Gionet to be removed from the program (i.e. returned to detention).
The attorney for Leonard Gruppo, a 28-year Army veteran who pleaded guilty in the #CapitolRiot, has filed his sentencing memo asking for probation in the case. He says Gruppo was "misled by an amoral and untruthful President and he regrets putting his trust in him." @wusa9
Gruppo's memo contains a long list of his service awards and decorations, along with descriptions of his time as a special forces medical sergeant in Kuwait during the first Gulf War, as well as in Iraq and Korea.
The DOJ has asked for Leonard Gruppo, who pleaded guilty in August to 1 misdemeanor count of parading, to serve 30 days in jail. It argues his military service makes his participation in the #CapitolRiot all the more egregious. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…