Judge rips Capitol rioter’s Trump defense

[Rogue Valley]

Judge rips Capitol rioter’s Trump defense

2/23/21
A federal judge is signaling that she’s not a big fan of an increasingly common defense emerging from lawyers for those charged in the Capitol Riot: President Donald Trump made me do it. At a bail hearing Tuesday for a Proud Boy member from Kansas accused of storming the Capitol, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said she was dubious about the legal merit of the effort to shift blame toward the former president and his inflammatory rhetoric about the election. “This purported defense, if recognized, would undermine the rule of law,” Howell said during the videoconference court session for William Chrestman, 47. “Then, just like a king or a dictator, the president could dictate what would be legal and what isn’t in this country and that is not how we operate here.” Lawyers for Chrestman pointed to several Supreme Court cases that they said indicated that guidance from government officials can sometimes be a defense against criminal charges. They said Trump’s encouragement amounted to that kind of all-clear for those who forced their way into the Capitol during the counting of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.

Howell called the defense argument “quite interesting,” but it quickly became clear she was deeply skeptical of its legal merit. Raising Trump’s famous comment during the 2016 campaign that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue in New York City and get away with it, she asked the defense lawyers to appreciate the implications of their position. “If President Trump ordered or instructed a member of the Proud Boys [to] go off and murder somebody and someone went off and did that, it follows that … would immunize them from liability for that criminal act? … In effect, isn’t that what your argument is saying?” the judge asked Redmond. “I don’t think so. … It’s not going to extend to every defendant,” Redmond replied. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s hearing, Howell said it was evident to her that Chrestman was in the category that he should not be released. “You call it an organization. I call it a gang,” the judge said to Redmond. “The fact that [Chrestman] continues to be a member of the Proud Boys is danger enough, isn’t it?”

"Trump made me do it" is no defense. They had better dream up something much better than that.

 

[bongsaway]

I wonder what happened to their free will and personal accountability?

 

[Mycroft]

Judge rips Capitol rioter’s Trump defense




"Trump made me do it" is no defense. They had better dream up something much better than that.

Good call by that judge.

Those who are dreaming and scheming about filing criminal charges against Trump for supposedly inciting the riot should take note. This judge's logic works for Trump, too. They might want to avoid this judge if they ever charge Trump.

If Trump didn't specifically order people to commit a crime, he is not responsible for crimes that people might commit.

 

[Craig234]

trump's role is not a defense for them, but it is a crime for trump.

 

[Ikari]

Judge rips Capitol rioter’s Trump defense




"Trump made me do it" is no defense. They had better dream up something much better than that.

Yeah, as much as Trump was spreading the lies and false narratives and whipping is Cult into a froth over this, the individual still bears responsibility for their actions. Trump may have incited this seditious act of domestic terrorism, but that doesn't excuse those who participated.

 

[Razoo]

As some of us predicted "Trump Made Me Do It" will not likely stand up in court.

Trump is not a good American ............

 

[lemmiwinx]

The people being charged are Antifa types who were instrumental in the Jan 6 coup attempt. They wanted to make Trump look bad and it worked. Most of the planning was done on Facebook who have deleted their account indefinitely.

 

[Ikari]

The people being charged are Antifa types who were instrumental in the Jan 6 coup attempt. They wanted to make Trump look bad and it worked. Most of the planning was done on Facebook who have deleted their account indefinitely.

lol
Yeah this guy is totally Antifa

lol

Enough with this pathetic deflection and lie that it was all Antifa trying to frame Trump. What a stupid lie it is.

 

[lemmiwinx]

lol
Yeah this guy is totally Antifa
View attachment 67319790
lol

Enough with this pathetic deflection and lie that it was all Antifa trying to frame Trump. What a stupid lie it is.

That photo of the Viking guy is exactly my point. This was not an invasion it was a staged media event. And the capitol bldg is still surrounded by the National Guard and razor wire. What a joke.

 

[Ikari]

That photo of the Viking guy is exactly my point. This was not an invasion it was a staged media event.

lol

OK, sure it was.

lol

 

[Old 'N Chill]

The people being charged are Antifa types who were instrumental in the Jan 6 coup attempt. They wanted to make Trump look bad and it worked. Most of the planning was done on Facebook who have deleted their account indefinitely.

Stop with the lies and disinformation already. Aren't there other places, like Parler, where people are drooling and stupid enough to believe your bullshit?

 

[Ikari]

Stop with the lies and disinformation already. Aren't there other places, like Parler, where people are drooling and stupid enough to believe your bullshit?

Lies and dishonesty is the bedrock of their false narrative, though. Without those, they may have to accept reality. Scary.

 

[lemmiwinx]

lol

OK, sure it was.
lol

So the Viking guy was a serious threat to American democracy like NPR is trying to convince all of us. How close were we to him taking over the country do you think?

 

[Ikari]

So the Viking guy was a serious threat to American democracy like NPR is trying to convince all of us. How close were we to him taking over the country do you think?

He did storm Congress, was part of an armed mob threatening politicians and killing cops, and was attempting to stop the certification of the Electoral College Vote. That's pretty much sedition right there. Just because they are inept doesn't mean they didn't try in earnest.
lol
This wasn't political kabuki theater. This was the Trump Cult driven to sedition by the lies and false narratives from Trump and his Cronies.

 

[Razoo]

Viking dude cannot blame Rump ........... the viking dude is wayyyyy too intelligent likely surpasses Trump effectively. He has no one to blame but himself. This man knew exactly what he was doing ......... breaking the law.

 

[lemmiwinx]

He did storm Congress, was part of an armed mob threatening politicians and killing cops, and was attempting to stop the certification of the Electoral College Vote. That's pretty much sedition right there. Just because they are inept doesn't mean they didn't try in earnest.
lol
This wasn't political kabuki theater. This was the Trump Cult driven to sedition by the lies and false narratives from Trump and his Cronies.

It was total theater. Except when the unarmed female protester was head shot and died. They weren't using rubber bullets like in Seattle or Portland.

 

[Ikari]

It was total theater. Except when the unarmed female protester was head shot. And they weren't using rubber bullets like in Seattle or Portland.

Yeah, funny how if you invade Congress and try to storm the area where the political leaders are, they may defend it. Shocking really.
lol
It wasn't theater, that's a dumb lie. It actually happened, it wasn't some Antifa setup, or any of that. The stupidity of this lie is astronomical and no one is buying it. It was real, it happened, this was Trump's Cult in action: dumb and violent. Now they're sitting in jail and facing serious charges.

 

[ASHES]

"I was just following orders" didn't work when they actually were following orders from a superior, not sure why they think it's going to work in this situation.

Apologies for the Godwin.

 

[US&THEM]

The people being charged are Antifa types who were instrumental in the Jan 6 coup attempt. They wanted to make Trump look bad and it worked. Most of the planning was done on Facebook who have deleted their account indefinitely.

Feel free to kist them and their charges.

 

[Grand Mal]

Good call by that judge.

Those who are dreaming and scheming about filing criminal charges against Trump for supposedly inciting the riot should take note. This judge's logic works for Trump, too. They might want to avoid this judge if they ever charge Trump.

If Trump didn't specifically order people to commit a crime, he is not responsible for crimes that people might commit.

That's not what the judge said though, is it. The judge said that being told to do a criminal act doesn't absolve you of guilt.

"If President Trump ordered or instructed a member of the Proud Boys [to] go off and murder somebody and someone went off and did that, it follows that … would immunize them from liability for that criminal act? … In effect, isn’t that what your argument is saying?” the judge asked Redmond."

The fact that they felt they were following orders isn't a defense. If Trump were to appear before that judge he might be in big trouble. Obviously she is a stickler for the letter of the law, as she well should be.

 

[Cardinal]

“I was only following orders” only works as a defense if your side wins. If you lose, then sorry, you’re shit out of luck.

 

[Grand Mal]

The people being charged are Antifa types who were instrumental in the Jan 6 coup attempt. They wanted to make Trump look bad and it worked. Most of the planning was done on Facebook who have deleted their account indefinitely.

ANTIFA types carrying Trump flags and wearing MAGA hats.
You guys can convince yourselves a bug is a candy, can't you.
Here's the future of the GOP if you can't manage to purge your party of the Trump cult...

 

[Grand Mal]

“I was only following orders” only works as a defense if your side wins. If you lose, then sorry, you’re shit out of luck.

Oddly enough, that's the only justification for an insurrection too, success.
Not that those idiots were fomenting insurrection. That crowd of mental midgets never in their lives made a success of anything.

 

[lemmiwinx]

ANTIFA types carrying Trump flags and wearing MAGA hats.
You guys can convince yourselves a bug is a candy, can't you.
Here's the future of the GOP if you can't manage to purge your party of the Trump cult...

View attachment 67319797

Again I say look at these people. This rag tag bunch is why we're an armed camp in DC now? With razor wire and National Guard troops? This nonsense needs to end we're not a banana republic.


Or are we?

 

[Cardinal]

Oddly enough, that's the only justification for an insurrection too, success.
Not that those idiots were fomenting insurrection. That crowd of mental midgets never in their lives made a success of anything.

Of course they were fomenting insurrection. You don’t have to be a brilliant bank robber to still try robbing a bank. You could be the dumbest criminal that ever lived, but if you walk into a bank and try robbing it while wearing your employee badge on your front shirt, you’re still a bank robber.