By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Song
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, August 20 -- On May 6, well over a month after the DC Circuit's decision in US v. Munchel, Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather held a series of proceedings including with Utah's Landon Kenneth Copeland. Inner City Press live tweeted it here and below.
On May 28, when Inner City Press called in to cover the follow up, Judge Meriweather nearly immediately sealed the proceeding, and callers were kicked off with no information if the proceeding would go public after discussion of mental health.
Now on August 20, there are attempted to seal, after the fact, things that Copeland said. Inner City Press downloaded, and live tweeted it, here: (podcast here)
Judge Meriweather: I am going to issue an order denying the government's request that I find Mr. Copeland incompetent and commit him to the custody of the Attorney General. What should I redact from the order? Inner City Press @innercitypress · 19m Defense: If any references to the defendant's statements to Pre-Trial or in court at the initial hearing I would ask that it be under seal.
[Inner City Press: No way - what is said in court is public, cannot be erased. Or can it, in DDC?]
AUSA: I have concerns about sealing statements to probation. Those aren't part of the mental health evaluation. I filed a detention memo, with quotes to Probation Inner City Press @innercitypress · 14m [Quick before it maybe gets sealed, here's AUSA Romano's detention memo: Memorandum in Support of Pretrial Detention – #11 in United States v. COPELAND (D.D.C., 1:21-mj-0... MEMORANDUM in Support of Pretrial Detention by USA as to LANDON KENNETH COPELAND (Romano, Michael) (Entered: 08/13/2021) courtlistener.com
From the still-public detention memo: Copeland: ..."lambasted 250,000,000 people as having some sort of mental disease that tune into the Tucker Carlson nightly news show every night. I couldn’t stand for that, Your Honor.” US v. Copeland, 4:21-mj-30
Previously, before Judge Meriweather and Ms. Kay: The Court: Mr. Copeland. Mr. Copeland. Ms. Kay, could you mute Mr. Copeland? The Defendant: Come get me fuckers. Come get me!
Then (those reading Inner City Press' threads will remember) Copeland called back to swear at the court again, accuse “[y]ou guys” (presumably, the Government and Court) of “killing your own people,” and then hung up again. Id. at 30-31. "
Id indeed.
Here's the type of statements they now wanted sealed, from the still-public detention memo, quotes to Pretrial Services Officer: Copeland: “I want to be heard”; he also said that he was at the edge of a cliff and “ready to finish it.” (PSO Report at 1.)
From the still-public detention memo: Copeland sent his PSO a text message saying “Tell them I want to speak, or I will die for it!” He went on to say “If they issue a warrant, they will have to come and get me, and it won’t be easy.” Id.
The May 28 thread:
now #insurrectionBlues case of US v. Landon Kenneth Copeland. Judge Meriweather said they are going to go under seal - then return? It's one thing to briefing go sealed about mental health. But what about the outcome?
His lawyer: He does not consent to being present only by video.
Judge Meriweather: I'll seal it in a minute. If I defer ruling under June 7, he will remain incarcerated...
Judge Meriweather: Disconnect the public line. Voice: You have been put in the waiting room. You cannot listen until the host admits you.
Q: So does that mean it will go back on the record afterward? Isn't the decision to seal entirely up to the defendant?
Now, voice: "Your conference is ending now. As requested by the host, please hang up."
Then it hangs up on the Press. Is this really how it's done? Are people supposed to repeatedly call back in to see if it goes back on the record, for this detained defendant?
Update: later on May 28 this was filed, showing that the sealed conference went to 3:44 pm. But what was said? "Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather: VTC Status Hearing as to LANDON KENNETH COPELAND (1) held on 5/28/2021. Status Hearing set for 6/7/2021 at 11:00 AM in Telephonic/VTC before Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather. Bond Status of Defendant: Defendant not Present/Defendant Remains Committed; Court Reporter: FTR-Gold; FTR Time Frame: CTRM 6 [3:08:00-3:44:00]; Defense Attorney: Ryan Stout and Heather Shaner; US Attorney: Michael Romano; Pretrial Officer: Shay Holman."
Lawyer for accused insurrectionist Anthony Antonio tells someone (the prosecutor), You look like Chris Hayes of MSNBC. An advocacy tactic? [Seems so - see below, he bragged about knowing Biden]
Now a "Mister Copeland" on the multi-defendant call is shouting, I'm in my car, I have nothing to hide! He is told, repeatedly, not to talk on the public line. I have nothing to hide, Copeland says.
Voice: "Can't the clerk mute Mr Copeland?" Deputy: You're not his lawyer. So, no. Voice: I'm just a person who wants to get some work done. Copeland: You are evil!
From DOJ website: "Copeland was arrested on April 29 and had his initial appearance the same afternoon. He was released on condition." Courtroom deputy says Copeland will be processed last today. Thread will continue
Confirmed: Copeland of "you are evil" is Landon Kenneth COPELAND, calling in by phone for initial appearance in DDC,As Judge Meriweather runs through general condition of release for other defendants, Copeland cuts in - "I have questions about my conditions" .. I am free Deputy: This is not the time for you to speak.
Deputy: We are not going to get anywhere like this. We can't have these interruptions, or we're not going to get through this calendar today. Copeland: I'll keep my mouth shut, I promise. Deputy: Or I'll mute you. Copeland: Yes, ma'am.
Copeland: I just want to ask, if any of this negotiable? Deputy: You are going to be muted if you don't stop right now. We'll call on your lawyer later.
Now processed, with less fanfare, is William Tryon previously released by a Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of New York. His Magistrates' Court case number is lower than Copeland, but he is not listed on DOJ's web page of cases.
Another straight forward appearance: Anthony Antonio. He was living in Delaware but now working on South Carolina for the past two months. His lawyer wants a loosening of conditions of release, says, "I'll keep it to four minutes or less... My client has no record"
Anthony Antonio's lawyer says his client work for a "solar company, Excel." They moved him to Illinois where, during the lockdown, "he became hooked on Fox-mania." Copeland: I would like to object! That's not pertinent!
[These multi-defendant presentments may not be a good idea - Copeland is objecting to Antonio's lawyer pleading "Fox-itis"] Antonio's lawyer: He stood on the steps exhorting peaceful protest. He smiled at police. Copeland: I object! Judge: Please mute Mr. Copeland
Antonio's lawyer: I will remember this hearing forever. My client came to me on Jan 20. I was not going to represent anyone from that mess, I was going to say, "I don't represent you people." #YouPeople
Antonio's lawyer: I contacted my Congress-person, to make him available at impeachment hearing. But they called no witnesses. [Imagine Copeland on mute]
Antonio's lawyer: Now my client works for a roofing company in South Carolina. He has to travel to a seminar, May 15-19 in Utah. [He could visit Copeland] Antonio's lawyer calls his client "a cooperating witness with the FBI." Really?
Says, needs to go to Texas in June and another one in September. [Particularly bad idea to have a joint proceeding of a self-declared cooperating witness with a defendant like Copeland
Antonio's lawyer is laying it on thick - says he knows Biden and would ask him to sponsor him into the DC Bar. Except Biden is not admitted. Also agrees to waiving Speedy Trial Act time, so that "the bad guys" can be prosecuted before his client.
Now as routine insurrection cases from Kansas are processed, a friend of Copeland calls in and speaks up. Deputy is referring her to AT&T listen-only line. But I like to listen, she says. Copeland is soon: countdown
Copeland starts with a bang: You people f*cked this up, he says. "You're going to give me a psych eval. I don't like 70% of my income going to the government. F*ck all of you!
Copeland has been muted. Judge: Profanity is not allowed to be used in court proceedings. Whatever grievances you have with Federal law enforcement or the court, this is not the time to raise it. It does you a dis-service. We expect order in the court.
Judge: Counsel, if I put you in a break-out room I could provide it. I would have asked the Marshals to remove him. We have other defendants. Lawyer: He might benefit from a break-out with the attorney he met with in Utah, Mr. Stout. We don't have a relationship
Mr. Stout: I'm available. Deputy: OK, we'll do another case first.
Copeland: I wanna talk in open court you mother f*ckers! Deputy: I thought I had muted that line.
Update: Judge Meriweather put Copeland in a breakout room, said proceeding would resume. Then the AT&T line cut off. Now both of her lines are on AT&T hold music. No announcement as to whether Copeland came back on, or the resolution. Like the withheld videos...
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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