Thread by @MacFarlaneNews

STANDBY: Sentencing begins in minutes in the Jan 6 misdemeanor case of Thomas & Lori Vinson of Kentucky

I'll be covering this. In footnote of filing this week, Thomas mentioned he'd been asked to testify by the House Jan 6 Select Committee. Let's see if that comes up today

Per feds, Lori Vinson said she was among first 100 people in Capitol, stayed for 40 minutes... then got fired two days later

Vinson has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor of "unlawful picketing" in Capitol. Standby for sentencing

US Justice Dept seeks 30-day jail sentence for Lori Vinson, citing need for "general deterrence of similar conduct in the future"

Feds are slamming Lori Vinson for "half-truths" with police.. .saying "that's not cooperation"

"Painted a very inaccurate picture of what happened on Jan. 6, 2021"

Prosecutor also cites Lori Vinson media interviews after Capitol riot in which she said, "I felt like what I had done was justified... I would do this all over again tomorrow"

Vinson lawyer is arguing for probation.

While asking questions of lawyers, federal judge Reggie Walton says judges are getting threatening phone calls for handling of Jan 6 cases. From people who buy into election lies

Addressing Vinson’s media interviews defending Jan 6 participation, her lawyer says Vinson’s mind has since changed. And her comments in January were partly motivated by Vinson losing her job

Feds seek lighter sentencing for Thomas Vinson. Home detention

Feds question why Thomas Vinson’s phone was mysteriously “destroyed” after Jan 6

Thomas Vinson’s lawyer says phone malfunctioned and was replaced. Meanwhile .. attorney says Thomas was “embarrassed” after seeing news coverage

Attorney says Thomas Vinson wanted out of Capitol after seeing damage at Sen Mitch McConnells office

Judge Walton questions why the Feds aren’t seeking fines against Jan 6 defendants (beyond the $500 restitution). He says taxpayers are covering the growing expenses of Capitol attack

Lori Vinson is now asking for leniency… citing the toll the pandemic has taken. (She works in health care. And says she helps Covid patients) Then says she cares for an adult with special needs

Lori Vinson’s attorney argued Lori would want to serve any jail time on weekends.. to help with Lori maintaining employment.

Thomas Vinson is now asking for leniency, “I’d like express my sincere apologies”
“We went there as peaceful people. I made a terrible decision to go in..”

Thomas Vinson: “I love this country. I took an oath (with Air Force)… and I broke that oath”

Vinson says he’ll suffer permanent blemish from Jan 6

Thomas Vinson says “I’ve done my best to help this whole investigation out”

(Noting … in court filing this week, Vinson’s defense says he’s been asked to testify by House Jan 6 Select Cmte)

Judge questions Thomas Vinson. “It was clear to me that there was a confrontation between police and the crowd … you were taken photographs … as if you approved..”

Vinson: “I did not approve”

Judge Walton says the false info that triggered Jan 6 about “fairness of election” are “still being said”

!!! Judge Walton, “What if Democrats do this next time around if they lose?!….. we are dividing our nation apart”

“Ripping the heart out of this country”

He then rips the “audits”

Federal judge says people “gullible” enough to fall for election lies before will be gullible enough to be fooled again. Blistering

Thomas Vinson, “I accept Joe Biden is our President”

Judge Walton says he’s concerned about message home detention sends in these cases. About deterrence .. about a “slap on the wrist”

Judge Walton talks about concern of burden on taxpayer of incarcerating Lori Vinson and the impact on the person for whom Vinson is caretaker

“As hard as it is for me… I will not impose a jail sentence in this case… I will place both defendants on probation for five years”

Probation only in this misdemeanor Jan 6 case. Judge adds $5,000 fine.. says “I want the sentence to hurt”