Ahead of today's sentencing of Jan 6 misdemeanor defendant Kimberly Dragoo, feds note post-arrest statements:

"Once Kimberly’s federal charges were unsealed and reported on by a local news organization, she reposted the news alert and commented that “No charges have been filed!!!"

They say she also wrote to local school board to say she was "innocent until proven guilty"... two months *after* she pleaded guilty Hoo boy. This hearing didn't go quietly. A set of arguments and proclamations unlike I've heard in other Jan 6 cases

Stand by

"They loaded up a van with weapons and traveled across the country with the single-minded purpose to obstruct the certification of the Electoral College results"

Feds seek 8-years prison for Jan 6 defendants linked to 3-%ers, found guilty of conspiracy

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco… MORE: Justice Dept seeks 8-years prison for Erik Warner, Derek Kinnison & Ronald Mele

78 months prison for Felipe Martinez

"On Jan 6.. wearing tactical gear & carrying weapons, they knowingly, voluntarily & enthusiastically joined forces with others in forming a mob that accomplished their goal—for a time"

The US House Rules Committee takes up the following bills next week ("messaging bills" that will not become law)

"Stop Unaffordable Dishwasher Standards Act"
"Affordable Air Conditioning Act"
"Refrigerator Freedom Act"
"Clothes Dryers Reliability Act"
"Liberty in Laundry Act"
"Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act" Democrats plan some amendments on these appliance-related bills, including one that'd require the House debate and pass Ukraine aid

Some tense moments just now at sentencing of Jan 6 defendant Antony Vo

Defense tried to get sentencing delayed & took issue with Feds & court’s handling of plea agreement rejected before trial

But defense & delay were firmly rejected by the judge… It’s Judge Tanya Chutkan

https://twitter.com/macfarlanenews/status/1778062377478426681

Defense is challenging the inclusion of quotes by Antony Vo in the pre-sentencing report .. including messages by Vo in which he acknowledged entering Capitol with his mom on Jan 6… and in which he took partial credit for stopping electoral vote count

(More)

Feds to seek 11+ years prison in Capitol riot case of Zachary Alam, who is accused of being part of mob that overran police outside House Speaker's Lobby

They allege "Alam and other rioters surged forward towards the House Main Door in an attempt to enter the House chamber" MORE: Justice Dept argues "Alam intentionally put himself at the front of the mob, where he threatened the USCP officers, yelling “I’m going to fu**k you up!” in their faces. Alam pushed against the officers, creating an opening so he could punch the glass panes of the doors"

ALERT: Judge Royce Lamberth sentences Jan 6 defendant Taylor Johnatakis to 87 months prison …. saying, among other things, Johnatakis showed contrition at trial, but changed his story later.. “based on his audience”

https://twitter.com/macfarlanenews/status/1774816237736058972

Judge says Johnatakis was brazen and flouted jail rules while in custody ahead of sentencing.. circumventing policy to call into a podcast in Jan 2024… during which Johnatakis allegedly claimed “we did nothing… we touched a gate” and claimed Jan 6 was “overblown”

Two Jan 6 defendants accused of being inside Senate Chamber, Joseph Irwin & John Richter, requested permission to appear by video link for verdict in their bench trial

Rather than travel back to DC

Feds have uncorked a blistering argument asking judge to deny request

(more) Feds argue "Defendants’ stated basis for this request is simple: they wish to avoid the expense & time associated with appearing in-person for the court’s verdict.. that will determine whether they committed the felony crimes"

DOJ emphasizes both men traveled to DC on Jan 6

DC federal judge Reggie Walton, who has overseen some Jan 6 cases, told CNN tonight:

“It’s very troubling” that judges & their families are being threatened…. In reference to Trump social media attacks on NY judge and judge’s daughter

Walton says he’s previously faced threats DC federal judge Reggie Walton is asked about Trump social media posts and responds: “it’s very important for people in authority to be circumspect … in what they say”

I’m in the chamber for tonight’s State of the Union for @CBSNews — to share what you might not be able to see on TV

For starters, 80 minutes before Pres Biden arrives, former Rep. George Santos is sitting in a seat on center aisle

Santos fraud trial is set for late this year Santos is all smiles. Talking with Rep Matt Gaetz

FYI… Earlier this month, a judge set the sentencing for Santos’s co-defendant (former campaign treasurer Nancy Marks) for November

NOW: GOP-led House Subcommitte on Weaponization of Fed. Govt begins hearing on "Big government' surveillance of "private financial data"

Minutes into hearing, topic pivots to Jan 6

Michael Fanone is a witness called by Democrats. Fanone says he'll rebut Jan 6 false claims The top Democrat on panel, Del. S. Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) lauds officer Fanone... and says GOP "is still seeking shelter from the truth"... "they want to protect not just themselves, but their political careers.. their jobs.. they're hiding behind lies"

Per multiple sources, House Judiciary Committee's GOP-led "subcommittee on weaponization of the federal government" stages hearing Thursday into the federal probe of January 6th

Officer Michael Fanone is expected to be a "rebuttal witness" against any claims Jan 6 was peaceful Per House GOP: this hearing will focus on “how big government has colluded with big banks to surveil Americans’ private financial data….”

Not about Jan 6

Officer Michael Fanone says he was called to be part of hearing to talk about Jan 6.

THIS MORNING: Feds to seek 27-months prison in jan 6 case of Clifford Mackrell

They'll argue "Mackrell successfully struck and yanked at an officer’s gas mask. Mackrell also assaulted (officer) & grabbed at his face"

Feds included these messages in sentencing memo to court ==> Retired Capitol Police Sgt Aguilino Gonell makes argument at sentencing of Jan 6 defendant Cliff Mackrell:

“Officers like me risked our lives… and stopped people” from attacking elected officials

NEXT HOUR: Sentencing in Capitol riot case of Michael Foy. Justice Dept seeks approx. 8-years prison. Their argument to court includes images of Foy trying to "stab at police with his long gnarled stick" and "throwing a sharpened metal pole"

Asst US Attorney has run thru a series of arguments seeking 97-months prison for Michael Foy in Jan 6 case.. saying:

“Foy was amongst the most violent actors”… in “anti-democratic violence” .. comparing it to “medieval siege”

NOW: Outside White House meeting, Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he, Pres. Biden, VP Harris, Sen. McConnell (R-KY) and Dem Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) all leaned on Speaker Johnson to pass Ukraine aid

Five-on-one lobbying. And meeting was intense per Democratic leaders Sen Schumer says the meeting on Ukraine was one of the most intense he’s ever been part of… As they push House Speaker Mike Johnson to allow a vote on Ukraine aid.

(Members of both parties believe aid would easily be approved, if a vote is allowed.)

NEW: Per report by House GOP-led subcommittee, construction of the gallows on Jan 6, 2021 began during 6am hour. And was completed, with addition of crossbar, at approx by 1p

They allege the leader of group had trench coat, fedora, walked with limp and made a coffee run

(More) House GOP report

“group of 5 returned to the scene and the presumed leader, now wearing a baseball cap, installed the final crossbeam & added the noose made of bright orange rope”

No suspect has been named. And none of the current defendants is accused of gallows construction”

There it is: Donald Trump is seeking dismissal of Mar-a-Lago classified records case by claiming “presidential immunity”:

(More) Trump’s new court filing in Florida:

“President Trump’s decision to designate records as personal and cause them to be removed from the White House plainly constitutes an official act within the “outer perimeter” of the president’s official duties.”

NEW: Special Counsel David Weiss makes new argument for pretrial jail for Alexander Smirnov, the FBI informant accused of fabricating claims about Pres. Biden and Hunter Biden

Weiss: "He claims to have contacts with multiple foreign intelligence agencies"

(more) Special Counsel (more) about Smirnov: "Those foreign intelligence agencies could resettle Smirnov outside the U.S. if he were released. Second, he has access to over $6 million in liquid funds—more than enough money for him to live comfortably overseas for the rest of his life"

ALERT: In court filing seeking pretrial jail, Justice Dept alleges Alexander Smirnov, an FBI informant accused of making false claims of bribery against President Biden, had contacts........ with Russian intelligence
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco… Feds: “He claims to have contacts w/ multiple foreign intelligence agencies & had plans to leave the US two days after he was arrested last week for a months-long, multi-country foreign trip. During this trip, the defendant claimed to be meeting w/ foreign intelligence contacts”

NEW: Feds ask judge to REJECT request by Jan 6 defendant Riley Williams for prison term reduction:
"No amount of creative reimagining or relabeling of Williams’ conduct can change these facts. Williams’ outsized role in the violent attack on the Capitol renders her ineligible" Feds say Williams "invaded" Capitol "directed other rioters, organized violence & physical resistance.. stole and helped to steal items from Speaker Pelosi’s office. For over 90 minutes, Williams dialed up the chaos while she gleefully directed the monstrous violence around her"

NEW: Trump files appeal to Supreme Court in election conspiracy case

"President Trump’s claim that Presidents have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts presents a novel, complex & momentous question that warrants careful consideration on appeal" Trump's appeal throws shade at the DC circuit court of appeals for its ruling last week that rejected his "presidential immunity" claim

Trump's lawyers call the ruling "extraordinarily fast"

68 House GOPers have co-sponsored resolution formally expressing sentiment of House that "Donald Trump did not engage in insurrection"

Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
Rep M.T. Greene (R-GA)
Rep Andy Ogles (R-TN)
Rep Anna P. Luna (R-FL)
Rep Mike Collins (R-GA)
Rep Wesley Hunt (R-TX)

MORE Rep Bill Posey (R-FL)
Rep Harriet Hageman (R-WY)
Rep Greg Steube (R-FL)
Rep Matt Rosendale (R-MT)
Rep Eric Burlison (R-MO)
Rep Eli Crane (R-AZ)
Rep Russell Fry (R-SC)
Rep Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Rep Alex Mooney (R-WV)
Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

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