The feds say Jan. 6 defendant Jenna Ryan — who said she’s “definitely not going to jail” — should definitely go to jail. huffpost.com/entry/jenna-ry…
“Perhaps the most compelling need for specific deterrence arises from the defendant’s misguided belief that she is above the law, or at least insulated from incarceration.” huffpost.com/entry/jenna-ry…
The feds say Jenna Ryan “drew on her considerable experience as a social media influencer to promote violence before her arrival at the Capitol.” huffpost.com/entry/jenna-ry…
“On Twitter and in televised interviews, the defendant described herself as a patriot who did nothing wrong and who was deserving of a presidential pardon.”
“She publicly sought a presidential pardon for her crimes while also blaming others, such as the FBI and ‘antifa,’ for the violence and destruction of property that occurred on January 6 without acknowledging her own considerable contribution to the belligerence.”
In a letter to the judge, Jenna Ryan states that she “cannot always display remorse” on social media because she is marketing herself.
“My social media is an image I project and not my real life,” she writes.
"I try to balance my life and come across as happy and well adjusted. It’s all about image management.” — Jenna Ryan
"Some actions I took that day were good. I came to DC to protest the election results.”
"It is my belief that America is presently in an 'Information War.’”
The title of the file is "New Letter to Judge Cooper,” suggesting Jenna Ryan’s lawyer had some edits to the first draft.
"Her comments on social media reflected her belief that a wrong had been committed in the way the Presidential election had been conducted, that there were significant acts of election fraud, and that the Presidency had, in effect, been stolen.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Responding to Jenna Ryan’s claim that she didn’t observe violence, the government provided this photo of her filming the media smash.
DOJ says Jenna Ryan "seeks to minimize her own conduct” in her letter to the judge.
"The United States submits that no reasonable person… would consider people 'climbing the walls' to be an appropriate or peaceful means of entering the Capitol…”
DOJ in court: The defendant cannot use the First Amendment to incite.
Defense attorney argues that Jenna Ryan went to D.C. on Jan. 6 to take part in a celebration of American freedom.
Judge Christopher Cooper questions Ryan’s lawyer on whether she knew there was chaos before she went down to the Capitol.
“She is a social butterfly,” says Jenna Ryan’s attorney. She likes to go on the internet and post things, he adds.
Judge says that Jenna Ryan is entitled to make her statements, and that he’s entitled to factor her comments into his sentencing decision when he considers the need for deterrence.
Judge: "I don't think you could have missed the fact that this was no peaceful protest… You were a cheerleader, you cheered it on."
Judge says Jenna Ryan’s comments after the Capitol attack downplay her role.
“I just shouldn’t tweet,” Ryan tells the judge.
Judge Cooper on Twitter: “You get yourself into that briar patch, and you’ve gotta live with it.”
Judge Cooper says Jenna Ryan’s case “has generated a fair amount of public interest.” People will want to know how she was sentenced, and the sentence should tell them we take it seriously.
"there really is no centralized role in this for Defense or the Federal government components. This sits squarely in MPD's realm. I'm trying to tamp this down with the Deputy like I have the last couple of protests but this one may be different..."
From the latest batch of FBI emails on Jan. 6:
"It's her very first day in this position. He didn't tell her what the document was, or who wrote it, unfortunately and then went back to the 7th floor for more meetings..."
The only man known to have participated in both the newsman fight in Anchorman (2004) and the U.S. Capitol attack (2021) has formally pleaded guilty in connection with the latter.
Jay Johnston’s sentencing hearing in DC is set for Oct. 7, not long before his Mr. Show colleague David Cross appears in DC at the Warner Theater for his “The End Of The Beginning Of The End” show.
THREAD: Over two years ago, a Jan. 6 defendant told a court that he'd witnessed Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes (now serving an 18 year seditious conspiracy sentence) that he'd witnessed Rhodes try to contact Donald Trump during the Capitol attack.
That Jan. 6 defendant, William Todd Wilson, admitted that he heard Rhodes “repeatedly implore" an unidentified party he was speaking with "to tell President Trump to call upon groups like the Oath Keepers to forcibly oppose a transfer of power." nbcnews.com/politics/justi…
Rhodes himself was convicted at trial and, in May 2023, sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. But that phone call wasn't a focus for prosecutors.
The only man known to have participated in both the News Fight in Anchorman (2004) and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol (2021) plans to plead guilty on July 8, per court docket.
He doesn’t count for any “law enforcement officers who stormed the Capitol” stats, but he’s certainly played a cop a bunch! nbcnews.com/politics/justi…