Thread by @kyledcheney

Chief Judge HOWELL, in her first Jan. 6-related sentencing, says prosecutors seem "schizophrenic" in describing the Capitol attack in harsh terms but then seeking less-than-maximum sentence / cutting 'petty offense' plea deal.

Howell: Do you believe "general deterrence is going to be served by letting rioters who broke into the capitol, overran police … broke into the building through windows and doors — and now they’re going to be able to resolve their criminal liability through petty offense pleas?"

Howell perplexed at government decision to assess most Jan. 6 defendants $500, which she says would amount to about $300,000 total for all known defendants, "barely a drop in the bucket."

She says total financial cost of attack is more than $560 million.

DOJ now publicly estimates that 2000-2,500 participated in the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, the first time they've publicly used that number.

@ryanjreilly got at this recently: huffpost.com/entry/feds-mad…

@ryanjreilly Howell now asking defense team about a video game that defendant Jack Griffith created in which Trump is the hero and the villains are antifa. Griffith promoted the game, describing Trump as "Cheeto Mussolini"

@ryanjreilly Howell is overtly furious at prosecutors for offering a "petty offense" plea to Capitol rioters. "This is a muddled approach by the government."

She says it's no reason the public is "confused" about whether Jan. 6 is serious or just a bunch of trespassres.

@ryanjreilly HOWELL: "The damage to the reputation of our democracy, which is usually held up around the world -- but that reputation suffered because of Jan. 6."

@ryanjreilly HOWELL blasts Griffith for iniitally blaming the media for his own conduct on Jan. 6

"You’re not a lemming, Mr. Griffith. You can think for yourself."

@ryanjreilly Howell, citing the government's own decisions in the case, sentenced Griffith to 36 month sof probation, no jail time. She says she can't deviate from what the govt offered to other rioters who received sentences for similar conduct.