Friday, January 26, 2024

D.C District Judge: Says He is Shocked January 6 Rioters Are Called “Hostages"

DC District Judge Royce Lamberth
(100% accurate opinion & concerns)

Jan. 6 rioters like ordinary tourists
(Oops … some GOPers got it all wrong)

Timely and appropriate story from ABC NEWS with this headline:

Judge “shocked” by efforts to “rewrite history” of January 6 attack, those who label perpetrators “hostages”

Short version from the main article: From a senior judge for the D.C. district court issued a scathing rebuke those he says are trying to “rewrite history” of the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, writing that he has been “shocked” to see some public figures attempt to label the perpetrators of the violence that day as “hostages.”

Senior judge Royce Lamberth, appointed by former President Ronald Reagan with nearly 40 years of judicial experience, said in a written ruling: “I have been dismayed to see distortions and outright falsehoods seep into the public consciousness. I have been shocked to watch some public figures try to rewrite history, claiming rioters behaved “in an orderly fashion like ordinary tourists, or martyrizing convicted January 6 defendants as political prisoners or even, incredibly, hostages.”

He concluded writing:That is all preposterous. But the Court fears that such destructive, misguided rhetoric could presage further danger to our country.”

Full article: A senior judge for the D.C. district court issued a scathing rebuke on Thursday of those he says are trying to “rewrite history” of the  January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, writing he has been “shocked” to see some public figures attempt to label the perpetrators of the violence that day as “hostages.”

Senior Judge Royce Lamberth, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan with nearly 40 years of judicial experience, said in a written ruling Thursday: I have been dismayed to see distortions and outright falsehoods seep into the public consciousness. I have been shocked to watch some public figures try to rewrite history, claiming rioters behaved 'in an orderly fashion' like ordinary tourists, or martyrizing convicted January 6 defendants as ‘political prisoners’ or even, incredibly, ‘hostages.’ That is all preposterous.”

Judge Lambert added:But the Court fears that such destructive, misguided rhetoric could presage further danger to our country.” 

Lamberth's comments came as part of a ruling tied to a sentencing of a January 6 defendant convicted of misdemeanor offenses, James Little, who has sought to argue he's the victim of a political prosecution. Little was initially ordered to be sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years on probation – Little appealed and federal appeals court sent it back to Lamberth for resentencing even though Little had already completed his incarceration.

Lamberth presided over many other high-profile January 6 cases: (1) Jacob Chansley, known as the “QAnon Shaman,” and (1) Christopher Worrell, former Proud Boys member who went missing just before he was set to be sentenced for his role in January 6.

Lamberth wrote in response to Little's claims:The Court is accustomed to defendants who refuse to accept that they did anything wrong. But in my thirty-seven years on the bench, I cannot recall a time when such meritless justifications of criminal activity have gone mainstream.”

Trump said at a rally on the eve of the Jan. 6 anniversary this year: The J6 hostages, I call them. Nobody has been treated ever in history so badly as those people nobody's ever been treated in our country.”

While not mentioning Trump or others in the GOP who have used “hostages” rhetoric, Lamberth cited his decades of judicial experience and time presiding over dozens of January 6 prosecutions to “set the record straight.”

Lamberth said:The Court cannot condone the shameless attempts by Mr. Little or anyone else to misinterpret or misrepresent what happened. It cannot condone the notion that those who broke the law on January 6 did nothing wrong, or that those duly convicted with all the safeguards of the United States Constitution, including a right to trial by jury in felony cases, are political prisoners or hostages.”

My 2 Cents: Truly spot on Judge Lamberth … excellent comments.

But, he is also right in expressing the final idea to the MAGA Trump supporters and Rep. Stefanik (R-NY), who BTW was the Rep. in my NY district (I’m a lifelong DEM BTW).

I track Ms. Stefanik ever since her first run in 2014… she is pitiful and now a hardcore Trump sycophant who always seeks the PR limelight and not much else. She also called the January 6 rioters “hostages.” She is truly a pitiful person.

The judge said that act on January 6 and denial comments since presage our future – he is 100% correct and that is based on Trump’s own words in his so-called “Project 2025” plan should we win in November – which I don’t think he will…

Thanks for stopping by.


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