Thread by @ryanjreilly

Thread: Jan. 6 defendant Nicholas Rodean was sentenced to home detention, and if you were in the courtroom, you’d understand why. Rodean has Asperger syndrome, which Judge Trevor McFadden said played a “major factor” in his conduct on Jan. 6.

Rodean’s lawyer said he was “substantially impaired,” had “rigid thinking” and an obsession with President Trump, which explains why he gloomed onto the nonsense conspiracy theories Trump and Republicans were spouting.

Rodean was attracted to “assertive male figures,” his attorney said. Rodean’s own sister said they were deeply interested in deterrence, but said “autistic people don’t fair well in prison.”

Rodean himself spoke before the judge. He repeated a few talking points about Antifa and BLM, calling them “terrorist organizations.”

Then he explained, haltingly, how during COVID he no longer had the aide who used to take him to the grocery store.

“I listened to Trump’s whole speech,” Rodean said, and then said he followed people to the Capitol because that’s where everyone was going, and he liked to be in front.

His lawyer explained he likes to be in front so he doesn’t get excluded from things.

“I was just following, like, everyone else,” he said. “I am really sorry about breaking the window… I am really sorry about what other crimes I did.”

Judge McFadden said that Rodean suffers “significant difficulty that most people don’t suffer” and that Rodean’s diagnosis set him apart from other Jan. 6 rioters. He said Rodean was “particularly susceptible” to the influences that day.

McFadden noted Rodean’s “special respect” for President Trump. As a condition of his home detention, he subjected Rodean to 30 mins. per day of internet access.

“I’m giving you a real break here,” McFadden told Rodean, saying he knew prison would be uniquely difficult for him. “Please understand that this is your only chance though.”

He’ll be on home detention for 240 days.

More from Tom:

https://twitter.com/tomjackmanwp/status/1585311269145280517