One thing I have not understood is how/why defense attorney’s are pleading people out before they see all of the discovery.
The government has to turn over all of the discovery. That would include the video of 1/6 if it shows the defendants.
I think most of them have public defenders/pretenders.
Because the feds are letting them plead down to misdemeanors like trespassing. For someone locked up in solitary confinement, an offer like "hey, you can walk out a free man if you just plead to trespassing" sounds pretty appealing. Of course, they have already served 6 months in the gulag for misdemeanor trespassing. Locked up with no bail for 6 months for protesting. It's a travesty of justice. For the people who committed actual crimes, destroyed property, assaulted police, etc, I have no problem prosecuting them, but even they are entitled to bail and a fair trial.