Posted on 04/07/2022 5:17:09 AM PDT by MtnClimber
D.C. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden today delivered a major blow to the Justice Department’s aggressive prosecution of January 6 protesters. Following a bench trial this week for Matthew Martin, a New Mexico man charged with the most common misdemeanors related to the Capitol protest, McFadden found Martin not guilty on all counts. It is the first acquittal in a January 6 case; nearly 800 Americans have been arrested and charged, mostly on petty offenses, for their involvement in the four-hour disturbance that day.
Martin was arrested a year ago on four counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, violent entry, and parading in the Capitol building. Prosecutors confirmed he was in the building for roughly 10 minutes.
He pleaded not guilty and opted for a bench trial before McFadden, a Trump appointee. Taking the stand in his own defense, Martin said he was “waved” into the building by Capitol police. According to BuzzFeed’s Zoe Tillman, who is covering the in-person trials in Washington, an official for the U.S. Capitol Police testified that police “were so vastly outnumbered and couldn’t stop people [and] all they could do was observe [and] try to make sure no one got hurt.”
Calling Martin’s conduct “minimal and non-serious,” McFadden found it “plausible” that Martin was allowed into the building and did not realize the grounds were off-limits to the public.
McFadden’s ruling could impact pending cases and plea offers since a government witness confirmed for the first time under oath that police stood by as people entered the Capitol. The next trial for a January 6 defendant facing the same charges is scheduled for April 13 when Russell Dean Alford will appear before Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee.
(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...
People being held in solitary confinement for this?
Russell Dean Alford will appear before Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee.
Russell is screwed.
it’ll be a much different outcome for him. (I hope I am wrong but I bet I am not)
Yes, and DC jails are miserable places.
Shows us that when it comes to Trump supporters,
the current regime is not interested in their prosecution, but their PERSECUTION!
the whole thing is a disgrace.
D.C. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden>>> Worked for Trump a nd appointed by him early. Bought my first car from his Grand dad uncle Willie.
Russell Dean Alford will appear before Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee.
Russell is screwed.
it’ll be a much different outcome for him. (I hope I am wrong but I bet I am not)>>> But hopefully use the testimony of the officer about letting the people in can be used in appeal?
Finally, someone was acquitted for walking into the “Peoples House”.
Lavrentiy Beria, the most ruthless and longest-serving secret police chief in Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror in Russia and Eastern Europe, bragged that he could prove criminal conduct on anyone, even the innocent.
Fake communist political prosecutors 🤪
There is no other way to describe it
This defense is going to be grabbed by many.
So sad for the DOJ.
If it was not for the cell phone videos of Capitol Police letting people enter, holding the doors open, no one would have believed it.
At least Aunt Ester was a God-fearing woman.
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