NEW: Jan 6 defendant Jay Johnston, former "Bob's Burgers" actor, asks for leniency at sentencing Monday

Defense says feds "persistently overstated Johnston’s participation at the Capitol..because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor. government is using his status to make a point to the public"

(MORE) MORE: Some interesting phrasing in Jan 6 defendant Jay Johnston's defense memo to court

"..Amid the chaos, Mr. Johnston soon found himself by the Tunnel leading into the Capitol Building on the Lower West Terrace.."

ALERT: "Central Park 5" file defamation suit against Donald Trump

They allege Trump engaged in defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress w/ statements at Sept 10 Presidential debate in Philadelphia
Here's the 18-page civil complaint against Trump

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storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

ALERT: Judge Tanya Chutkan has just allowed the unsealing of approx. 1900 pages of Jack Smith records in the Trump 2020 election conspiracy case.

Heavy, heavy redactions. Lots to go through.

But note that the records include Mike Pence's announcement on Jan 6, 2021 that he would not overturn results The first batch (720+) pages includes heavy redactions, but also has transcripts of depositions/interviews between Trump aides/allies and the House Jan 6 Select Committee.. including questions about the "substitute" batches of electoral votes

LINK: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

NOW: Justice Dept asks for 27 months prison in Jan 6 case of Dana Bell, arguing “history cannot repeat itself” after the 2024 elections. Prosecutor tells judge “deterrence” is critical

Bell is accused being “agitated, angry & violent” as she accosted police & media on Jan 6 Prosecutor argues Bell engaged in “prolonged, abusive and violent” behavior. Prosecutor says Bell grabbed police officer’s baton, as police tried to clear mob away after Ashli Babbitt was shot

Heavy police presence and wide perimeter here in Valdosta, Ga — where Trump is planning campaign stop in front of this damage

Power is out for days in this community. Businesses closed

One restaurant owner told me: They’re ambivalent about “dignitary visits right now” Traffic lights are out regionwide. Trees down. Billboard toppled. Roofs ripped apart.

Valdosta businesses that have generators are serving food on sidewalks to those who need it.

IN COURT JUST NOW: Justice Dept prosecutor tells judge that the Bureau of Prisons "confirmed there was an error" ... mistakenly releasing Jan 6 defendant Leo Kelly from its prison facility in Rochester, MN

(MORE)

https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1838335016977215509

Leo Kelly was sentenced to 30 months prison in August 2023, accused of breaching the Parliamentarian's office while amid the mob.. and of facing off against "an outnumbered line of officers"

Prosecutors say prison bureau "misread" or miscalucuated filing about Kelly prison term

The Justice Dept says the FBI located a semiautomatic rifle w/ scope near where Routh was hiding near Trump golf course

Feds: "The rifle was loaded with a total of 11 rounds and had a round in the chamber. The serial number on the rifle was obliterated and unreadable" Justice Dept court filing includes image of gun. And a backpack containing plates capable of "stopping small arms fire"

Justice Department says it WILL seek pretrial detention in the new criminal case of Sean "Diddy" Combs Justice Dept filing seeking court order to jail Sean Combs:

"The defendant poses an ongoing and significant danger to the community, has repeatedly engaged in obstructive conduct, and presents a serious risk of flight. The government respectfully submits that the defendant cannot meet his burden of overcoming the statutory presumption in favor of detention. There are no conditions of bail that would assure the appearance and compliance of the defendant, or the safety of others. Accordingly, any application for bail should be denied"

Initial appearance is complete for Ryan Routh in Florida

Charges include weapons possession. (So far)

He is qualified for public defender.

Government seeks pretrial detention

Per my teammates in courthouse In newly unsealed charging documents, prosecutors allege Ryan Routh was using a stolen license plate on his vehicle and ... when he was stopped by police... he was asked "if he knew why he was being stopped"

"He responded in the affirmative"

En route to the courthouse ... and courtroom 9

Updates begin at 10am REMINDER: Trump has waived his right to attend the hearing. Judge approved him doing so

Trump has instructed his defense attorneys to enter a NOT GUILTY plea, on his behalf, to the charges in the superseding indictment

We’re at Justice Dept HQ, where Atty General Merrick Garland is announcing case against Russian figures who have sought to interfere with 2024 elections. RT broadcasts included “RT and its employees” executed scheme to disseminate Russian propaganda…and to utilize social media influencers to do the same, says Atty Gen Garland

To shift opinion on war against Ukraine

Striking statements just now from federal prosecutor at a Jan 6 sentencing hearing for former Virginia police officer Thomas Robertson

Without explicitly mentioning upcoming election, she argues:

“The need for deterrence is at an all-time high”

(More) Prosecutor: Jan 6 was a “crime of historic magnitude”

“The damage done must be reflected in the (defendants) sentences”

(More)

JUST NOW IN COURT: Standing in orange jail jumpsuit & facing judge, Jan 6 defendant Joseph Hutchison read this letter. He's serving as his own lawyer & asked for his case to be dismissed, citing delays in getting access to filings in jail and noting "230 days" in pretrial jail Hutchison is charged w/ multiple felonies and accused of physical confrontations with police (below)

But .. there's a twist to his case

(MORE)

STAND BY: Justice Dept is about to ask for 57 months prison in Jan 6 case of Michael Sparks, arguing he was the very first rioter to enter the Capitol while fully aware of Congress's role that day. They say he wrote: "I believe in the constitution so I’ll die f[o]r it. Trump is my president.” Prosecutors will argue that Sparks was among the group ahead of the mob that confronted lone Capitol Officer Eugene Goodman, as Senators attempted to flee

A distinctively traumatizing American moment. Especially for the police who were beaten, taunted ... and subjected to epithets

https://twitter.com/CahnEmily/status/1826418529286893684

US House Members, some of whom were hiding and trapped in the upper level of House chamber on Jan 6, have described to me how they texted loved ones to say "goodbye" or to try to comfort their spouses at home

FLASH: Former Congressman George Santos pleads guilty to two federal counts - Wire fraud and aggravated identify theft

Two year mandatory minimum. But judge has estimated possible sentencing range between 6-8 years… later this year

Santos spoke softly, acknowledging series of crimes Plea agreement calls for Santos to make restitution of at least $373,749.97

THREAD: A rare occurrence in a Jan 6 criminal hearing just now.. A charge of heart from a defendant insisting on defending himself

Andrew Miller, who's accused of entering thru smashed window while carrying respirator mask & goggles, has been making court filings like this=>

Andrew Miller made a quite an entrance just now before Judge Tanya Chutkan.

Introducing himself in court, Miller said: "I come in peace"

Judge Chutkan, pausing a moment, responded....... "I'm glad to hear that"

ALERT: Judge hands down one of the longest Capitol riot prison terms so far

20 years for David Dempsey of California. Feds called him “one of the most violent”

Among other things, they argued he “threw a short pole-like object into the Tunnel, striking a police officer. Dempsey shouted, "F— you b—ass cops."” Jan 6 defendant David Dempsey could be in prison for the next FIVE Presidential elections

Calling him "one of the most violent" of Jan 6 attackers, Justice Dept has asked for approx. 22 year prison term for David Dempsey

Citing:

His body armor
His unleashing "torrent of pepper spray"
Striking officer w/ metal crutch
"Stomping" on officers' heads
Long criminal record Just a few excerpts from Justice Dept sentencing memo in USA v. David Dempsey

"Dempsey struck MPD Sergeant's.. head with such ferocity using a metal crutch that it cracked the protective shield of his gas mask, causing Sergeant.. to collapse in a daze"

ALERT: Inspector General releases report on US Secret Service response to Jan 6

Noteworthy findings.. including this image. Items seized at Ellipse before Trump speech

"Service official told us he'd never seen the number of ballistic vests & gas masks that he saw on Jan 6" So .... how many knives and cannisters of chemical spray were seized *before* Trump supporters arrived at Capitol?

Look at this number... items confiscated at White House Ellipse earlier in the day =====>

FLASH: The Donald Trump election conspiracy criminal case has returned to DC Judge Tanya Chutkan

As expected... after the 32-day wait after Supreme Court ruling

We'll see what hearings are added to the calendar in the coming days

Case was frozen on Feb 6 The hallmark of Judge Chutkan's (brief) stewardship of the Trump DC criminal case was her relentless ability to avoid delays and backlogs amid the torrent of Trump filings