Cont: Rioters storm and occupy the US Capitol - part 2

[TurkeysGhost]

An early guilty plea making its way through the courts.

Perhaps an interesting early test case for the mass of people that all got charged for entering the capitol building, but did not engage in specific acts of violence.

Paul Hodgkins entered his plea during a virtual hearing Wednesday in federal court in Washington. The 38-year-old was originally facing five charges, but under a deal negotiated with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing an official proceeding.

https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/1002482095/prosecutors-secure-second-guilty-plea-in-capitol-insurrection-investigation

15-21 months in prison seems likely. Looks like a lot of these CHUDs are looking at a year or so in federal prison, and that's just for the more mild cases.

 

[Segnosaur]

An early guilty plea making its way through the courts.

Perhaps an interesting early test case for the mass of people that all got charged for entering the capitol building, but did not engage in specific acts of violence.

Paul Hodgkins entered his plea during a virtual hearing Wednesday in federal court in Washington.


15-21 months in prison seems likely. Looks like a lot of these CHUDs are looking at a year or so in federal prison, and that's just for the more mild cases.

Seems like a fair-enough sentence. (From what I have read, it also counts as a felony, with all the legal baggage that will involve for the rest of his life.)

 

[TurkeysGhost]

Seems like a fair-enough sentence. (From what I have read, it also counts as a felony, with all the legal baggage that will involve for the rest of his life.)

Yeah, perhaps concerns that these cannon-fodder chuds were going to get a wrist slap are not warranted. Some of the charges were dropped as part of the plea, but the "obstruction" charge remains, which gives the sentencing a bit of teeth.

 

[8enotto]

That sounds better. All the R political folks trying to brush this off as a couple of kids scrapping in the playground is stupid.

I do wonder how many of them are or were scrambling to erase traces of their own involvement in this. I also wonder how many failed to get it all before the FBI got that particular device.
Those probably would be the last ones shaken out of the mix to make sure it's a solid case.

So many loyal followers destroyed by the greedy ambition of the trump. I find it hard to feel sorry for willing stupidity.

 

[smartcooky]

I have a friend in Washington, a freelance journalist and photographer, who has some low level connections/sources in the DC FBI.

He tells me his contact reckons the redacted name in the May 31 indictment of those Oath Keepers might come as a shock to some, that this person is a "known name", not directly a member of the Oath Keepers, but is known to have close connections to the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters and other militia groups. He was unable to elaborate further.

 

[Aridas]

I have a friend in Washington, a freelance journalist and photographer, who has some low level connections/sources in the DC FBI.

He tells me his contact reckons the redacted name in the May 31 indictment of those Oath Keepers might come as a shock to some, that this person is a "known name", not directly a member of the Oath Keepers, but is known to have close connections to the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters and other militia groups. He was unable to elaborate further.

A name of some one like, say, Stone?

 

[smartcooky]

A name of some one like, say, Stone?

I don't know. I wish he would tell me more.

I'm hoping it a Kongresskritter like Boebert or Greene. Boebert is known to have connections with the Oath Keepers, but if it was someone that high profile, I'm sure it would have leaked by now.

 

[Mumbles]

A name of some one like, say, Stone?

Cmon, Gosar gosar no whammy gosar gosar...

Really, there's a few such people in congress, and connected to the Dolt 45's administration, that I can't *really* guess. But when you family makes multiple commercials telling people not to vote for you, you're definitely a piece of scum, so why not hope for him?

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Apparently the guy who put his feet up on Pelosi's desk is selling autographed copies of that photo for $100 a piece. I'm sure his lawyer is thrilled.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

Apparently the guy who put his feet up on Pelosi's desk is selling autographed copies of that photo for $100 a piece. I'm sure his lawyer is thrilled.

I know these people need cash, but it's probably best to hold off your "I'm glad I did it" type fundraisers until after sentencing.

 

[Armitage72]

I know these people need cash, but it's probably best to hold off your "I'm glad I did it" type fundraisers until after sentencing.

It will be funny if they invoke whatever local "Son of Sam Law" is relevant, saying that criminals can't profit from the publicity of their crimes, and seize the money or make him pay it back, on top of everything else.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

More reporting on the plea agreement.

Seems that prosecutors are not feeling particularly generous and the chances of escaping with a minor conviction seems unlikely for the bulk of the CHUDs that were involved.

Patrick Leduc, Hodgkins' defense attorney, told CNN on Wednesday that the Justice Department insisted his client face a felony charge.
The charge Hodgkins has pleaded to carries a maximum 20 years in prison. His suggested sentence of more than a year may become a template for other rioters who have no criminal history and agree to plead guilty without going to trial.

"The cement has hardened," Leduc said to CNN after the plea hearing. "It took [prosecutors] awhile for them to get a full measure of the man. The message is going to get sent to the other 449."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/03/politics/capitol-riot-plea-deals/index.html

Others may get more leniency from the Justice Department than Hodgkins, if they didn't enter more sensitive areas of the Capitol, Leduc said. For Hodgkins and his 15 minutes in the Senate chamber, "it's all on CCTV," Leduc said.

Perhaps a glimmer of hope for some of the other CHUDs that participated but didn't invade the building as deeply, but seems like slim odds. Doesn't seem like the prosecutors are that willing to be generous, and there's really not much leverage the defense has in the negotiation. The vast majority of these people are obviously guilty, with numerous camera angles and other evidence available.

 

[Leftus]

Indeed.

What these right-wing fabulists fail to understand is that "no harm, no foul" does not apply with a conspiracy - you don't have to actually go through with the planned crime - all that is needed is for two or more people plan a crime, and badaboom, you have a conspiracy!

In most jurisdictions, an overt act is required. Going to DC would be an over act in furtherance or the conspiracy. Planning alone is not enough.

A federal criminal conspiracy is built up of five elements:

Two or more persons that;
Intentionally;
Agreed;
To violate federal law or defraud the United States; and
Commit an overt act in furtherance of the agreement.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

In most jurisdictions, an overt act is required. Going to DC would be an over act in furtherance or the conspiracy. Planning alone is not enough.

A federal criminal conspiracy is built up of five elements:

Two or more persons that;
Intentionally;
Agreed;
To violate federal law or defraud the United States; and
Commit an overt act in furtherance of the agreement.

This case has an abundance of evidence proving a criminal conspiracy, but to be honest just the video of the column moving in concert to breach the police line would probably be enough on it's own to meet all these criteria.

All the texts and organizing in advance is just extra nails into the coffin. These guys are well and truly ******.

Edit: Tracking down all the text chats is a useful endeavor because it could also implicate members of this conspiracy that were not on the scene during the attack. People who facilitated this scheme, even in just an organizational or support role, could be facing a conspiracy charge.

 

[smartcooky]

This case has an abundance of evidence proving a criminal conspiracy, but to be honest just the video of the column moving in concert to breach the police line would probably be enough on it's own to meet all these criteria.

Indeed!

Watch the first 20 seconds...



Those people in the combat fatigues are the Oath Keepers listed in the recent superseding indictment, moving up the steps as described...

132. At 2:35 p.m., CROWL, WATKINS, SANDRA PARKER, YOUNG, STEELE, KELLY MEGGS, CONNIE MEGGS, HACKETT, and ISAACS joined together with others known and unknown to form a column or stack of individuals wearing Oath Keepers clothing, patches, insignia, and battle gear (the “Stack”). Together, the Stack maneuvered in an organized fashion up the steps on the east side of the Capitol—each member keeping at least one hand on the
shoulder of the other in front of them.

133. Towards the top of the steps, HARRELSON and DOLAN joined with the Stack.

134. At the top of the steps, the Stack joined and then pushed forward alongside a mob that aggressively advanced towards the Columbus Doors at the central east entrance to the Capitol, assaulted the officers guarding the doors, threw objects and sprayed chemicals towards the officers and the doors, and pulled violently on the doors.​

This is a trained military manoeuvre, and a clear overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.
.
.
.
.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Apparently the guy who put his feet up on Pelosi's desk is selling autographed copies of that photo for $100 a piece. I'm sure his lawyer is thrilled.

That profit can and likely will be confiscated. You cannot profit from a crime.

 

[kookbreaker]

Oh look! Projection!

https://www.rawstory.com/capitol-ri...vZbXoamjpP0c9n5zn5Pru7ffAB0iBBYqnV8Od7wwU6SZc

 

[Leftus]

This case has an abundance of evidence proving a criminal conspiracy, but to be honest just the video of the column moving in concert to breach the police line would probably be enough on it's own to meet all these criteria.

All the texts and organizing in advance is just extra nails into the coffin. These guys are well and truly ******.

Edit: Tracking down all the text chats is a useful endeavor because it could also implicate members of this conspiracy that were not on the scene during the attack. People who facilitated this scheme, even in just an organizational or support role, could be facing a conspiracy charge.

Well, I suppose an argument could be raised that you got caught up in the moment, and did not agree to do anything with anyone else. But if you were part of the email / reddit / text group it strips that argument bare.

In theory, everyone who clicked "I'm going" to the Storm Area 51 raid nonsense, would have conspired the moment anyone so much as bought a ticket to Nevada, or placed a room reservation. If it was just an "interested" then you could argue that you were simply interested in watching this train wreck but not participating. So I could see how someone could be on those threads about storming the capitol and not be part of the conspiracy but they would be walking a fine line.

 

[Belz...]

Oh look! Projection!

https://www.rawstory.com/capitol-ri...vZbXoamjpP0c9n5zn5Pru7ffAB0iBBYqnV8Od7wwU6SZc

I'm starting to realise more and more than outlandish accusations are often made to cover one's own crimes.

 

[Checkmite]

Immediately after the Capitol putsch:

You can tell it was BLM in disguise because REAL Trump supporters would never support violence, those are clearly BLM and Antifa tactics.

Immediately after Michael Flynn suggests the US should have a coup 'like in Myanmar':

Preach it brother, yeehaw!