Sentencing is beginning in Jan 6 case of Audrey Southard-Rumsey
Prosecutors will ask for 6 years prison, arguing she went on "violent rampage" in Capitol. And they say, while carrying a pole, she was a "principal agitator" in the mob -- and called "for a 1776-style revolution"
Prosecutor argues Southard “led the mob toward the House Chamber” on Jan 6
“She was directly terrorizing Congress”
Prosecutor argues against the type of “caught up in the moment” defense that’s frequently invoked by Jan 6 defendants
Asst US Attorney says Southard “worked on a revolutionary manifesto”
Prosecutor says Southard sought to “install Donald Trump as President”
Defense attorney argues Southard was “very upset & very agitated”…. “Although she had a very big mouth, (Southard) didn’t have the actions of someone trying to influence” Congress
Defense says Southard didn’t carry firearm or terrorize
Defense says it was “a perfect storm that day”
On Jan 6
A unique variant of the “caught up in the moment” defense commonly invoked by Jan 6 defendants
Prosecutor: “She can believe what she wants, but she can’t go on a violent rampage because of that”
Prosecutor concludes: “It’s wrong to use violence to achieve political goals, no matter how right you think you are”
Southard’s defense makes final argument next
Defense echoes so many other Jan 6 defense attorneys by saying:
Southard “is done protesting… she lost her job, she’s received a lot of negativity” after the arrest
Defense, in an emphatic tone of voice, says Trump’s call to gather in DC ahead of Jan 6 and his “will be wild” statement were……. “outrageous”
Defense says Southard, 54, has had health conditions and “won’t be able to handle prison well because of her physical conditions”
Seeking leniency
Standby. Southard — who’s facing prospect and recommendation of six year prison term - will speak soon
Never seen anything like this … in any Jan 6 hearing. Southard is unleashing a list of grievances. She’s thrown away her written remarks, ignored her lawyer’s warning, is glaring periodically at prosecutors and has launched into something of a tirade
Standby
OK. A lot to unpack here. Potentially the most self-destructive thing I’ve seen in the 1000+ Jan 6 cases so far
Southard walked to podium clutching a paper with her written statement. She tossed it aside and says to judge “I wanted to tell you exactly what you want to hear, but I won’t. I won’t lie. There were vicious lies about me”… and she glares toward prosecutor
She glared a second time at Assistant US Attorney and says “nobody knows me”
Southard meanders through a series of points about hating strong smells, loving the paintings inside the Capitol… and being a particularly “fast walker”
She looks back at judge Amit Mehta and says “I want to tell the truth, I don’t care what happens”
Southard: “My whole dream of my life has been taken, because people have different politics than mine”
She then says Antifa was filming her on Jan 6
She then points at a police officer in the courtroom (an officer whom she allegedly saw on Jan 6)
She says points again at officer, calls him “the blonde one” and says “he was terrified”
The judge has ordered Southard to stop turning toward — and pointing at — others in courtroom
A US Marshal moved up next to Southard at podium. Right behind her as she continues speaking
Southard unleashes a series of political complaints:
“I’m terrified about what’s happening in our country”
She complains about the cost of gas and groceries
Southard then, in defiance of the allegations presented by Justice Dept says:
“I didn’t push the police officer, he pushed against me”
Southard: “I have grievances, since they don’t listen to us at the polling place”
“They don’t listen to us little people in the regular world”
Southard says “Washington DC destroys our lives”
About her defense attorney’s pledge to judge that Southard won’t protest in future, Southard says “I won’t protest because I’ll be in prison”
“Why protest? You guys don’t listen”
Southard: “I’m ashamed of this country”
Defense attorney has stepped back over to seek to calm or redirect Southard. Didn’t work
Southard to judge.. after again looking back at others in courtroom:
“When you decide to throw me in prison for doing my duty…. Think of what I now have to give up”
At her defense attorney’s urging, Southard wraps up.
“It’s not fair. It’s not right”
Judge Mehta calls for 15 min recess before announcing sentence
But…….
Asst US Attorney immediately stands to tell judge the Dept of Justice is no longer agreeing to a reduction in sentence for Ms Southard for “acceptance of responsibility”
The possible sentence recommendation just grew. Because of Southard’s words.
Standing by now for judge
Whoa
Judge adds terror enhancement in case
Feds had sought 6 years prison
New guidelines are now closer to 10 years
Judge is now quoting some of the most onerous words allegedly uttered by Southard on Jan 6,
“Pence is a traitor”
“Pelosi you socialist c***”
“Pelosi, we’re coming for that b***, traitorous c****”
She’s shaking her head as judge speaks. He notices
Judge You terrorized members of Congress, including those who believe the things you do
Judge slams Southard and other Jan 6 defendants for cloaking themselves “in patriotism”
DOJ will now ask she be sent directly to jail
FLASH: Judge sentences Audrey Southard-Rumsey to 6 years prison
Per defense attorney, it was a one-point terror enhancement
Judge Mehta: “The county you claim is oppressing you is giving you all .. the due process”
Southard comes out of courtroom and says to us: “Now you’ve got a real story!”
I asked Southard if she’d like to explain her remarks in court or what happened.
She looks and says “You’re a bunch of f**** liars. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You’re why we are in this mess”
Judge Amit Mehta paused for awhile when asked by prosecutors to order Southard jailed immediately. And he decided not to do so. He will allow her to self-surrender. Under release conditions
No estimate yet when Southard will report to prison.
She unleashed a series of vulgarities at reporters after hearing
! Just filed to @CBSNews about an outburst and episode unlike any other among the 1,000+ Jan. 6 cases
FLASH: Brian Driscoll, the former acting FBI director who was fired by the Trump Administration last month, has filed a federal civil lawsuit against Kash Patel, Pam Bondi and the President
Driscoll and two other fired FBI leaders (Steven Jensen and Spencer Evans) allege their federal rights were violated when they were fired
Suit: "Patel not only acted unlawfully but deliberately chose to prioritize politicizing the FBI over protecting the American people"
Lawsuit filed by fired acting FBI director Brian Driscoll:
"Patel explained that there was nothing he or Driscoll could do to stop these or any other firings, because 'the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.”
NEW: Judge Jia Cobb rules in favor of Federal Reserve Board governor Lisa Cook, temporarily blocking Cook's firing by Trump
In a 49-page ruling, Cobb finds Cook's procedural rights were violated and that Cook made a "strong showing" in her argument
(MORE)
Judge Cobb's ruling in favor of Lisa Cook:
"The President’s equivocal claim that Cook 'may have made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements' refers only to conduct that may have occurred before she was confirmed to her position"
The Judge italicized the word "MAY"
Judge Cobb notes that Lisa Cook didn't receive "notice" or a "hearing" before Trump sought to fire her for cause
FLASH: Judge erupts at hearing as Justice Dept reveals dismissal of yet another recent DC criminal case
Judge Zia Farriqui: “We’re past the point of Constitutional crisis”
“embarrassment & shame for the govt”
“This is just a rush to get stats on Twitter or truth social”
Judge slams Justice Dept for being “past the Rubicon”.. as they dismiss Fed charges against Edward Dana, who was charged with threat against President
Dana recently broke a light fixture, was drunk, claimed to police to be in Russian mafia, said he’d fight fascism even if it meant to kill a Pres., per charges
He was held in jail a week. Feds dismissed charge 30 mins before hearing today
Judge apologizes to Dana for his treatment by feds and uncorks a 10 minute, raised-voice stemwinder at Justice Dept prosecutor … saying “We’re acting like this is all normal”
Judge says Trump Admin “is playing cops and robbers like children”
STAND BY: Judge Jia Cobb takes the bench shortly here in DC.
Lisa Cook is challenging her firing from Federal Reserve Board by Trump
Cook is not in courtroom. It's her attorneys Norm Eisen and Abbe Lowell
Lisa Cook's legal team will argue:
"This case challenges President Trump’s unprecedented and illegal attempt to remove Governor Cook from her position which, if allowed to occur, would the first of its kind in the Board’s history. It would subvert the Federal Reserve Act, which explicitly requires a showing of 'cause' for a Governor’s removal, which an unsubstantiated allegation about private mortgage applications submitted by Governor Cook prior to her Senate confirmation is not"
Judge Jia Cobb is a 2021 appointee to the court.
Cobb has previously decried "misinformation" about January 6, the surge in political violent threats and election misinformation from the bench
Amid Trump clampdown in Wash, D.C., a woman spent 6 days in jail awaiting her release for allegedly spitting on a National Zoo police sergeant.
Even though the feds did NOT seek to have her held in pretrial detention
Her defense lawyer filed a motion reading "HELP!!!"
(MORE)
Kristal Rios Esquival was arrested Aug 20 after she was stopped allegedly making an unlawful entry to in a staff entrance to a birdhouse at the Nat'l Zoo. Feds say she spat on a sergeant & made "physical contact" w/ officer leg
Per judge in her case, an odyssey ensued in jail
Per the judge, "Ms. Rios-Esquivel should have been presented to a Magistrate Judge on August 22, 2025. However, federal authorities did not bring Ms. Rios-Esquivel to court until August 25, 2025"