STANDBY: Detention hearing begins soon in US Capitol riot case of Mark Mazza of Indiana
Mazza is accused of brandishing baton & being part of "heave-ho" push against police line amid the mob at Capitol
Charging documents say Mazza yelled at police, "This is our f**** house!"
Judge says this case is unique... because feds allege Mazza carried a loaded firearm
Judge then leans into this allegation: "Mr. Mazza is taking a role in aiding and abetting and encouraging others to engage in assaultive conduct"
Mazza is accused of holding open the doors as others in the mob assault the police
"Law enforcement officers are in great distress.... it doesn't deter Mr. Mazza from holding the door"... the judge says as he recounts the video shown by prosecutors in seeking Mazza's detention
Judge just called the episode "shocking"... and says he can only imagine the trauma being suffered by police
Judge says he's even more troubled by the allegation that Mazza gave a false police report in Ohio about the gun Mazza lost at Capitol on Jan 6
And the allegation of "hollow-point" bullets (More lethal) in the gun on jan 6
Judge is leaning hard into the allegation that Mazza brought a loaded firearm on to Capitol grounds on Jan 6
This is a distinguishing accusation and ensures Mazza's will be a high-level, high-profile case moving forward (among 700+ defendants)
This hearing is another blow for those who've argued Jan 6 didn't seem like an "armed insurrection"
Judge says allegations indicate "prior planning" by Mazza ... and "coordination" with others in the mob in the tunnel
"Detention is appropriate"... says judge
Judge is now expressing his concern about the allegation that Mazza stole and possessed a DC police baton
Judge says what Mazza allegedly did was not "spontaneous" and that Mazza was not "caught up in the moment"
(Judge is echoing the "caught up in the moment" refrain used by growing number of Jan 6 defendants at sentencing)
Mazza is a veteran .. and judge says that cuts in favor of pretrial release. (bookmark that statement for future defendants)
Judge then says Mazza is accused of giving false police report.. "willing to be untruthful to law enforcement" ... weighing in favor of detention
Judge is now recounting the allegation from feds that Mazza made a threatening statement about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
He then adds: The videos of Jan 6 show "horrific conduct' amid the mob
Judge is talking about defendants who are accused of taking & keeping police equipment on Jan 6.. saying it appears there was an effort to keep "trophies"
*Judge then orders Mazza held in pretrial detention*
Mazza joins a few dozen others in jail pretrial in Jan 6 cases
Mazza enters plea of NOT GUILTY and requests trial by jury
NEW: Justice Dept recommends five months prison in the Jan 6 case of Jeffrey Register, who is accused of running past police & seeking to enter House Chamber on January 6, while wearing a "Gods, Guns and Trump" hoodie
He then allegedly "factory reset" phone & lied to FBI
Register pleaded guilty to misdemeanor, but feds argue his was among the most serious of the Jan 6 misdemeanors
They allege he waved & directed crowd.. and was in close proximity to Ashli Babbitt at House Speaker's Lobby ==>
Justice Dept: "Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed at the location to which Register had enthusiastically drawn the crowd"
ONE YEAR AGO: Accused OathKeeper Jan 6 conspirator got the "signal" she was waiting for .....
according to the feds
(quick thread)
According to feds, in Nov 2020, she'd texted "I am concerned this is an elaborate trap. Unless the POTUS himself activates us, it’s not legit. The POTUS has the right to activate units too. If Trump asks me to come, I will. Otherwise, I can’t trust it.”
But a year ago this week, defendant "perceived her desired signal," according to Justice Dept
She allegedly texted: “We plan on going to DC on the 6th” because “Trump wants all able bodied Patriots
to come,” & how, “If Trump activates the Insurrection Act, I’d hate to miss it”
NEW: In Xmas Eve court filing, feds seek pretrial jail for Jan 6 defendant Mark Mazza of IN, alleging he had *loaded gun* amid mob on & *dropped the gun* amid crowd. Feds say Mazza later falsely reported gun was stolen in Ohio and they say he had stolen DC Police baton in home
Prosecutors: "Mazza loaded his Taurus Revolver both with shotgun shells and cartridges containing hollow point bullets, which are bullets that expand on contact and are significantly more lethal than regular bullets" ... on Jan 6 in DC
Prosecutors (more): "Mazza admitted to taking the police baton on Jan 6.. and to using it to strike a law enforcement officer in the tunnel. Mazza further admitted that he was recently in possession of
several other firearms..."
STANDBY: Big hearing is imminent in DC federal court
Accused Proud Boys Jan 6 conspirator Matthew Greene of Syracuse is scheduled to plead guilty. This could be a breakthrough in a large & particularly high level US Capitol riot case
ALERT: Matthew Greene will plead guilty to *conspiracy* and obstruction of official proceeding
Big get for the US Justice Dept
Prosecutors accused Greene of "advertising" that he was a "first degree Proud Boy" on social media
And he allegedly sent encrypted message on Jan 6 saying "We took the Capital" (sic)
Greene is 34 y/o. He told judge he made it thru 10th grade, born in Syracuse, NY