Mitchell Vukich’s grandmother says he’s "literally the opposite" of a terrorist and that he went to D.C. to cheer up his friend and "there were no concerts or sports games to go to.”
Defense: "Those who have been charged even with misdemeanor offenses have faced national opprobrium… There are punishments beyond incarceration and those, when aired to the public at large, provide for deterrence beyond what incarceration achieves.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Notably, the defense team claims that their client — who wore a QAnon / Trump “Punisher” skull t-shirt to storm the Capitol — did not support or vote for Trump.
As @emptywheel has observed, the potential for a terrorism sentencing enhancement could help explain why Danny Rodriguez’s federal public defenders fought to have his confession tossed (even though he’d easily be convicted without it). huffpost.com/entry/danny-ro…
In his confession, Danny Rodriguez basically said that, within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., he committed acts dangerous to human life that were intended to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion. huffpost.com/entry/danny-ro…
“Your honor, I’ll be honest, I don’t know how Snapchat works,” says Leonard Pearson Ridge IV’s defense attorney. She says this Jan. 6 conviction will “follow him forever” and that "in many ways, having the conviction alone is punishment enough.”
Ridge: “I’m sorry for my actions and my conduct on that day… If I could do it over again I would have never went into that building.”
Ridge said he didn’t realize the impact that his actions would have on America’s standing in the world.
In a filing on Friday, Jan. 6 pretrial detainee Jonathan Mellis’ lawyer argues Mellis was trying to "defend others from what he perceived to be an imminent threat” when he assaulted officers with a stick.
"Mr. Mellis was in the District of Columbia on January 6th to attend a peaceful, political event led by the then-President…” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Jonathan Mellis was one of those Trump fans upset about the lies his fellow conspiracy theorists were spreading about the Jan. attack.
“We proudly take responsibility for storming the Castle. Antifa and BLM or [sic] too pussy…”
"I'm going to war... I might not even make it back... I'm really ready to just the kamikaze... Looking forward to a war... #letshaveawar... I have been planning for this since fucking Bush left office and obama came in."
Any pretrial detainee or prisoner with a gluten intolerance should be appropriately fed, but it’s remarkable to see how willing far-right politicians have been to associate themselves with Capitol rioters caught on camera viciously assaulting cops on Jan. 6.
The next Jan. 6 sentencing on the schedule is for Leonard Pearso Ridge IV.
No sentencing recommendation filed yet, but a defense memo notes he missed out on "prom, Senior Spirit Day, and the senior year picnic” because of the pandemic.
"Just pray for me that I don’t get arrested by the fbi.”
Ridge will be sentencing by Judge James E. Boasberg on Jan. 4.
Defense: "During a time when most teenagers and young adults dream only of being 'influencers’ on social media platforms… His interest in politics is a good thing and but for entering the Capitol on January 6th, should be applauded.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…