By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Song
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, Jan 9 – Three days after in the US Capitol among other things Mark Leffingwell stuck a Capitol Police officer repeatedly with a closed fist (and was freed), an affidavit was unsealed about still detained Cleveland Grover Meredith with a detention hearing next week. It says:
..."On January 7, 2021, the FBI received information that CLEVELAND GROVER MEREDITH, JR. (hereinafter “MEREDITH”) had recently sent a text message in which he wrote, “Thinking about heading over to Pelosi CUNT’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV [purple devil emoji].” Additionally, Agents learned that MEREDITH was likely in the Washington, DC area, and that he allegedly had firearms and ammunition. During the evening of January 7, 2021, FBI Agents determined that MEREDITH was staying at the Holiday Inn located at 550 C Street SW, Washington, DC. Agents made contact with MEREDITH in his hotel room and he granted consent to search his hotel room, his Ford truck, a Spartan trailer that can attach to the truck, and his mobile telephone. Agents advised MEREDITH of his Miranda rights and he agreed to speak with Agents without a lawyer present. MEREDITH stated that he arrived in Washington, DC from Colorado on January 6, 2021 but he originally intended on arriving on January 5, 2021. MEREDITH arrived too late for the rally on January 6, 2021. MEREDITH stated that he had two firearms in his truck, and he knew that he was not supposed to have the firearms while in Washington, DC. Therefore, he moved the firearms to his trailer. MEREDITH told Agents that he came to Washington, DC previously in November for a rally and he also attended a protest outside of Governor Brian Kemp’s residence in Georgia. MEREDITH admitted to sending text messages to friends and he showed some of them to the Agents. While reviewing the text messages, I observed a text message that was sent on January 6, 2021 in which he wrote, “I’m trying but currently stuck in Cambridge, OH with trailer lights being fixed, crappers.” MEREDITH then sent a photo of his pick up truck and his trailer. MEREDITH’s next text in the conversation was, “Just fixed…headed to DC with a shit ton of 5.56 armor piercing ammo [purple devil emoji].” On January 7, 2021, in a text conversation with the same individual, MEREDITH wrote, “Thinking about heading over to Pelosi CUNT’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV [purple devil emoji].” Later on January 7, 2021, the other participant wrote, “That comment you made about Pelosi, what the fuck are you thinking. Get real nephew.” MEREDITH replied, “Psychological warfare. I’ve been on the radar for a while now, they now I’m harmless.” MEREDITH was utilizing a cellular phone in Washington, DC to send these text messages on January 7, and was texting an individual located outside of Washington, DC. I observed a separate text message conversation that occurred on January 7, 2021 where MEREDITH wrote, “How much u give me to go trench the Capital lawn with ma big truk?” The other participant wrote, “Don’t do it.” MEREDITH replied, “I’m gonna run that CUNT Pelosi over while she chews on her gums.” Later in the conversation, MEREDITH wrote, “Dead Bitch Walking. I predict that within 12 days, many in our country will die.” MEREDITH texted a photo of himself wearing a black face covering and then wrote, “I’m gonna walk around DC FKG with people by yelling “Allahu ak Bar” randomly.” Later in the conversation, the other participant wrote, “Cleve, be careful! I’m worried about you.” MEREDITH replied, “Lol, jus havin fun. My Spy name is: DoubleODipshit.” The other participant replied, “That’s funny.” MEREDITH replied, “Locked in my hotel room…high [smiley face with hearts emoji].” During the consent search of the hotel room, Agents seized a box of suspected THC edibles and a vial of Testosterone Cypionate/Propionate."
On January 8, by contrast, Mark Leffingwell was released to fly back to him home in Seattle, no GPS monitor, no bond.
Inner City Press covered the case. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey held the detention, or really non-detention, proceeding. Inner City Press live tweeted it here: (then, song here)
Now in Federal Court in DC, hearing of detained Mark Jefferson LEFFINGWELL who "attempted to push past me and other officers. When he was deterred from advancing further into the building, LEFFINGWELL punched me repeatedly with a closed fist."
Assistant US Attorney is *not* asking for detention . He'll be allowed to travel back home to Seattle.
AUSA: We'll be requesting strict conditions... A stay-away from DC... A curfew. Judge: You say he works. What is it? Lawyer: A packaging plant called Panacea in Everett, Washington. 30 to 40 hours a week.
From the complaint: "I was struck in the helmet that I was wearing and in the chest. Working with other officers, I was able to gain control over LEFFINGWELL, who attempted to struggle while being detained. I transported LEFFINGWELL to US Capitol Police HQ."
Judge Harvey: Believe it or not, I have a lot of these case. Pre-Trial should find out about GPS in the Districts where these folks come from. I released someone else yesterday. Defense: GPS is not necessary. He has 2 children.
Defense: He wants to go to church on the weekend. No need to be on a GPS. We'll take a stay away. He's never been to DC before.
Mrs. Leffingwell: I'm an insurance agent. We have a son, Noah, and Nicholas. Judge: I am going to release Mr. Leffingwell.
Judge: You can turn in your guns to a police station. You must call pre-trial once a week and keep working [at the packaging plant.] Stay away from DC except for court. Our proceedings will be remote, you probably won't have to come.
Judge Harvey: I don't see the point of putting him on a curfew if we're not going to do GPS. Defense: He needs his ID to fly back to Seattle.
AUSA: We have nothing.
Defense: He passed his phone to one of his friends. I think they have his license.
AUSA: A third party? I can look for it. Which agency.
Defense: He was brought to 1-D-1, next to the baseball field, then the cell block.
Judge Harvey: I am going to release Mr Leffingwell. He must stay away from Washington DC. [That seems to be the main focus]
Judge Harvey: You'll have to Zoom in to the preliminary hearing... We've got the phone number, no worries, Mr. Leffingwell.
Song on SoundCloud here.
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