By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Song
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, May 25 – Minutes into a break in the impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, accused insurrectionist Domenic Pezzola was ordered detained until trial by Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather. Inner City Press live tweeted it, below. There was an appeal.
On May 25, months after the DC Circuit's decision in US v. Munchel, DDC Judge Amit P. Mehra held a detention review of Shane Leedon Jenkins, who threw a tomahawk at a Capitol window and has a previous criminal history. Judge Mehta found him a danger and ordered him to stay detained. Inner City Press live tweeted it here: (and podcast here)
Assistant US Attorney says they still haven't disclosed the contents of Jenkins' phone.
Defense lawyer asks for another 30 days.
Judge Mehta: Continuing 30 days is fine with me. Let's turn to the bond review. I've received the motion to reconsider his bond status
Judge Mehta: He was ordered detained by a Magistrate in Texas back on March 11. Defense: If Mr. Jenkins is not able to use social media, he won't be able to talk to people about what happened. And he won't be able to travel to protests.
Defense: I know the concern was his criminal history. But when he came back from DC he resumed working. And he would do the same now. We would agree to no access to any kind of social media whatsoever.
Judge Mehta: I don't think he's a risk of flight. He's no stranger to the criminal justice system. Nor does he have the means to flee. The issue before me is dangerousness, and that is a substantial concern.
Judge Mehta: We have a letter from the ministry where he lives, or was living prior to his arrest in this case. He has therefore come forward with evidence. So it's up to the government to come up with clear and convincing evidence.
[Assistant US Attorney was given chance to speak, and chose not to] Judge Mehta: Here, there's whether Mr. Jenkins would engage in other political violence in the future. In Munchel the Circuit said for some, it was only Jan 6. I don't think that's the case here.
Judge Mehta: The conditions that gave rise to Jan 6 continue, I'm sorry to say. Some still believe the election was stolen. We'll discuss Mr. Jenkins' social media in a moment. He poses a risk of assaultive behavior in general.
Judge Mehta: Mr. Jenkins was charged on 11 counts. He traveled here with weapons, including a tomahawk.
Judge Mehta: There's a social media message in which he says he is traveling armed, and ready. He went to the Capitol with a backpack. He didn't leave his weapons behind, as some others did. He used the tomahawk to break a window.
Judge Mehta: On the positive side, Mr Jenkins didn't throw the tomahawk at the police. Also to your credit, Mr. Jenkins, it seems you did help an officer, who was having difficulty breathing. You do get a little bit of credit for that.
Judge Mehta: Unlike a lot of folks arrested in connection with January 6, Mr. Jenkins has a criminal record, a not insubstantial one. Drug possession... 2007 assault, 2008 evading arrest... terrorist threats, the label may be worse, only 30 day sentence...
Judge Mehta: There's a danger of continued political violence. Maybe he'll have some time to reflect. On Jan 7 he said, People can take more measures... On Jan 7 he claimed that it was peaceful. Clearly it wasn't.
Judge Mehta: Here, I don't think conditions would be enough. I've released others. He has two prior revocations of supervision. Keeping him off social media, there's no way to monitor it.
Judge Mehta: Mr. Jenkins is a high risk of violating conditions of release. He used weapons, and his criminal history sets him apart from others. Even with COVID, things are getting better, at least for those in general population, he should get the benefit of that
Judge Mehta: So I will not change his conditions, I will keep him detained. How about June 28 at 10 am. Is that available with DC Jail? All say yes.
Judge: So, see you in about 30 days.
We will have more on this.
Inner City Press live tweeted Riley June Williams on January 25, here.
From January 22, song here: Thread here.
Inner City Press' John Earle Sullivan song on SoundCloud here.
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