In the Spotlight
By Nick Mastrangelo and Laura Elizabeth Jenkins
Published December 15, 2022
First published in The Gateway Pundit
Mainstream media has bombarded Americans with footage depicting a so-called “insurrection” or “riot” on Jan. 6. However, the 72 newest cases show a much different picture.
Since late August, the DOJ has rounded up dozens of more individuals for their actions relating to January 6. Most of these arrestees consist of unarmed, nonviolent individuals committing misdemeanor trespassing charges. Individuals who did not break windows, breach a building, or destroy office furniture. Like many of the 2021 and early 2022 arrestees, these individuals entered the Capitol with a cell phone or camera- filming the events of that day as they followed one another like tourists.
30 of the 72 new individuals have the exact same 4 charges: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds (1), Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds (2), Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds (3), and Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building (4). All 4 of these charges are classified as non-violent misdemeanor charges.
This mirrors approximately ¾ of the total 902 cases prosecuted in relation to Jan. 6. Those previously charged with these misdemeanors have incurred probation or even prison time with inconsistent sentencing.
Recently the government stopped mentioning that defendants in these new cases represent organized groups, like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. The majority of superseding indictments were 2 or 3 friends or family members who attended the Stop the Steal rally together.
TRENDING: HISTORIC: Matt Gaetz ‘Nominates’ President Trump in the 11th Vote for House Speaker
These individuals were lumped into existing cases when law enforcement found their photos or names on the device of another defendant. Is the government trying to make them look guilty by association before any meaningful deliberation has taken place?
Government charging documents still claim new defendants lead others, arrived first, or stood at the front lines at key times when the election was supposedly certified.
Yet if they played such a proactive role, why weren’t they arrested promptly? Why did the government wait until now?
Very few defendants in this new group are detained pretrial. Magistrate judges released them personal recognizance bonds with the freedom to live and work in their communities. How do they represent a threat like the mainstream media has portrayed?
Have prosecutors shifted strategy from claiming an insurrection to now merely racking up increased guilty convictions? This would promote key prosecutors into higher, more powerful positions of government.
Since the government is still using its resources to arrest new people, why has it not charged Ray Epps?
Epps appeared on video the night before Jan. 6th encouraging those in the crowd “go into the Capitol.” Epps is also seen on Capitol Grounds on January 6th. He is captured on video partaking in activities with other indicapturedviduals.
Furthermore, three uncharged men — Adrian Grimes and Joe and Dennis Godbold — were mentioned in the recent Oathkeepers trial for circulating a chat thread that appeared to discuss breaking a curfew.
Many of these new cases have the potential to go deep into 2024 and even 2025 especially at the rate most of the January 6th cases are going. There is a seemingly endless supply of resources for these cases, yet the examples of: unequal applications of justice under US law, prosecutorial misconduct, the refusal to release thousands of hours of video footage, protective orders, redactions and other signs of a clear intent to violate transparency greatly put into question where the motivations of our DOJ truly lie.
Please consider supporting the families of these individuals here.
https://www.givesendgo.com/G28VR
This article first appeared on American Gulag.org, a Gateway Pundit project exposing government overreach and the trials of Jan. 6th defendants.