Thread by @ryanjreilly

Sentencing now underway for Jan. 6 defendant Micajah Joel Jackson, an extremely prolific Twitter user.

DOJ is seeking 60 days of incarceration.

"When interviewed by FBI agents, he tearfully admitted to his conduct, thanked them for helping him get to the VA hospital for mental wellness, but then gets behind a keyboard and tells anyone who will listen that the 'FBI = KGB'..." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

Defense: "Politics gave Mr. Jackson a sense of purpose after being discharged from the military and his mental health struggles have undoubtedly led to his conduct in the instant offense." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

Defense: "However unsavory his social media posts and interviews with the media have appeared to many, in no way does Micajah ever condone or celebrate the violence that occurred at the Capitol building on January 6, 2021." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

“This has become his brand,” DOJ prosecutor argues, talking about Jackson’s media presence.

“There is severe danger in misinformation,” DOJ prosecutor argues. Cites Jackson calling Jan. 6 a “psyops.”

DOJ also cited Jackson’s false claim that a publicly filed court document was “leaked.”

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/1495922479117873152

Here’s the letter Jackson thought he could send to the judge ex parte (that he mistakenly believed could be kept private).

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/1496235934563672069

No rational human being could possibly believe that police officers were welcoming Jackson into the Capitol, judge says. “It’s very hard to reconcile” what actually happened with what he declared in his letter and in interviews, judge says.

Jackson “is in conflict,” his lawyer says. “I do believe he sincerely regrets his conduct on Jan. 6,” she argues.

Jackson’s lawyer says Jackson has social anxiety, so he wants the judge to go off of his letter. Jackson speaks briefly to the judge and says his “letter was sincere.”

Judge wants to wrestle with some of this a bit more, and it very concerned about Jackson potentially losing his VA benefits, so no final decision today. Back in two weeks.