Judge has sentenced Treniss Evans to 20 days jail in Capitol riot case. Feds argued Evans raised a megaphone while inside and declared “bring ‘em in”.. and drank whiskey in Congressional conference room
But his sentencing hearing.... was unlike any I've seen
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Evans spoke at his sentencing hearing... for nearly two hours. He was admonished by court for repeating himself, for interrupting the judge and for speaking too quickly
Among his statements: "Sure, I drank a shot of my whiskey, then.... someone else's whiskey" on Jan 6
Evans used the refrain used by so many Jan 6 defendants .. saying he was "caught up in the moment"
But some of his exchanges with judge were unique. He said, after the 2020 election, the "courts failed the people.. and Congress failed the people"
Still questioning 2020
Treniss Evans leaned in hard on his political views... saying America is tired of hearing about the investigation of January 6. He said "In January, with the new Congress, there'll be new types of investigations"
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Treniss Evans blamed Black Lives Matter and Antifa for violence and said he was "appalled by the violence on January 20, 2017"
He told judge: "If you give me 10 years in prison, I'm not gonna change what I saw on social media"
He hinted at a future run for Congress
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Judge Dabney Friedrich countered many of Evans' arguments.
When Evans argued "The window was destroyed before I got there"...
Friedrich questioned: "But you knew the window was broken, you didn't think that was an accident, did you?"
At times Evans cut off the judge mid-sentence. When Evans said "How would we have known the (Capitol) was restricted?" on Jan 6...
The judge responded: "Well there were alarms blaring!"
Evans complained of a "two-tiered" justice system, referenced comments by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX).. hinted at a future political run some more
Several times Evans alleged police were taking selfies & exchanging hugs with people in the mob
Evans said, several times, that he drove "1500 miles" to get to DC on Jan 6, after having canvassed in Georgia. He said there was never violence at the "Stop the Steal" rallies he'd attended. And said he sang the national anthem 5-7 times aloud in DC on Jan 6
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At one point of Evans' remarks, the judge responded: "What you say doesn't ring true"
After the lengthy, at times political, remarks.. Treniss Evans was unable to avoid a jail sentence. 20 days jail, $5000 fine, 3-years probation
The Justice Dept was seeking 60-days jail. So this strategy didn’t noticeably hurt Evans
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First line of 39-page opinion from Judge Amir Ali in DC:
"The Constitution forbids government officials from using their power to retaliate against people for their speech.. even when the speech is critical of the government"
Judge restores security clearance to whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid
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Trump stripped Zaid's clearance in an executive order in opening days of 2nd term
Zaid told me Trump wanted him "taken off the playing field"
Zaid sued in DC federal court
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Judge's ruling to restore Zaid's security clearance
"This case involves the government’s retribution against a lawyer because he represented whistleblowers and other clients who complained about the government, carried out by summarily canceling the attorney’s security clearance without any of the process that is afforded to others"
Among the newly-released Epstein files. This Justice Dept email from Jan 2020
'I wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported"
At 930am, arguments begin here at DC federal court in the civil lawsuit brought by some U.S. House members against Trump, alleging he violated federal law by galvanizing the Jan 6 rioters and attack
Judge hears arguments on whether case should proceed
Arguments are underway here in DC federal court in civil lawsuit by Members of Congress seeking damages from Trump for Jan 6
Question today: Will case be allowed to proceed?
Former Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA) is lead plaintiff. She’s here in the (very) crowded courtroom on 4th floor
Eight defense lawyers are at the table representing Trump… who is not here
NEW: Justice Dept files motion in court seeking to dismiss civil lawsuit filed by injured police officers who responded on Jan 6
Officers' suit sought court order to hang the legally-required Jan 6 honorary plaque for police
Justice Dept argues the plaque is faulty!
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The Justice Department argues that the plaque that's been shown on Capitol Hill "lists the names of approximately twenty-one law enforcement entities not the approximately 3,648 individual names of law enforcement personnel provided to the Architect"
Justice Dept motion (more): "Thus, the plaque referenced in that testimony is not the plaque directed by the statute, which calls for the creation of a plaque
'listing the names of all of the officers"
ALERT: Former FBI agents file suit alleging "unlawful retaliation" against Kash Patel & FBI.. for firings over their kneeling response during DC unrest after George Floyd murder
Suit: "As a result of their tactical decision to kneel, the mass of people moved on without escalating to violence"
The dozen fired FBI agents are seeking a court order to restore their jobs and provide backpay
Suit: "Plaintiffs were among the FBI personnel deployed during this period and saw the potential for violence first-hand" .. they say the kneeling was a de-escalation tool
FBI agents lawsuit (MORE): "Plaintiffs had been informed that the purpose of the deployment was to show a visible law enforcement presence, and they wore vests marked 'FBI' and carried their firearms. But they were not properly prepared or instructed to conduct crowd control operations"
FLASH: Judge rules James Comey criminal case is dismissed without prejudice. Judge determined the US Attorney Lindsey Halligan was not lawfully appointed
"All actions flowing from Ms. Halligan’s defective appointment, including securing and signing Mr. Comey’s indictment, were unlawful exercises of executive power and are hereby set aside."
From the judge: "The Attorney General’s authority to appoint an interim U.S. Attorney lasts for a total of 120 days from the date she first invokes section 546 after the departure of a Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney. If the position remains vacant at the end of the 120-day period, the exclusive authority to make further interim appointments under the statute shifts to the district court"