I think the government made a tactical mistake here. By pursuing these defendants and thereby taking the chance a jury would find many defendants innocent (and others at least not guilty) they have publicized what amounts to jury nullification to the jury pool they will need to use for cases that had higher chances of returning a guilty verdict.
If you are going to impose your will on uncooperative individuals you need to be smarter about it.
If Sessions has a shred of decency, which is an open question given his recent “interference” with these trials via his big mouth, he will call off the dogs and free everyone involved. Ditto for the two Oregon ranchers who are still in jail for setting controlled burns to protect their property and livestock. Perhaps Sessions needs a
“come to Jesus” meeting with Trump on this subject because he seems to be unable to function as a normal human being.