In every diary I write about the arrest of another Capitol Rioter, one question is asked again and again… Why are they only being charged with lesser crimes like “entering a restricted building or grounds and or impeding the orderly conduct of government business or official functions”?
Well, I went looking for an answer to that question and first discovered numerous reports much like this one from The Intercept:
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin said that prosecutors were considering a growing set of charges against those involved in the riot. He said that the crimes they could be accused of span from the relatively minor trespassing dozens of people have already been charged with; to theft of mail, digital devices, and possibly national security information from the Capitol; and up to assault of a law enforcement officer, seditious conspiracy, and felony murder. “The gamut of cases and criminal conduct we’re looking at is really mind-blowing and that has really put an enormous amount of work on the plate of the FBI and field offices throughout the entire United States,” Sherwin said at a press conference this week, warning that the cases could take years to prosecute. “This is only the beginning.”
That’s pretty much the same boilerplate stuff we’ve all been hearing for weeks. It doesn’t really explain the “WHY” of these lesser charges.
Then I stumbled upon the youtube video linked below and had a Hallelujah! moment.
The presenter explains that part of the reason we haven’t seen some of the harsher charges we might be expecting the Capitol Rioters to receive is that prosecutors need to get felony indictments from a grand jury. Well hell, that makes complete sense. Why didn’t someone explain that to us before?
I’ve done my best to transcribe a tiny snippet of what he says. It might be my favorite part.
“...at this point you’re probably sick of hearing me talk about how it’s not sedition, it’s never sedition that these people are guilty of. Well, congratulations, because this is not the same case. This is probably a slam dunk for many of the rioters. They probably committed sedition because lots and lots of people (who) stormed the Capitol clearly used force. Specifically, they tried to prevent Congress from certifying the election and certifying that Joe Biden is the President of the United States. If that’s not using force to oppose a law of the United States I’m not sure I know what is. So, despite the fact that it’s “never sedition” here it’s probably sedition.”
Now he does talk pretty fast, but he speaks clearly and in words I think most of us can understand. I don’t know this guy and I’m not endorsing his channel or anything. All I really know about him is he’s got a channel called Legal Eagle, his name is Devin, he’s wearing a really nice suit, and he seems to know what the hell he’s talking about.
Be forewarned, there IS a commercial promotion at the end of his video. In fact his natural talent may very well be as a salesman, but the comprehensive way he explains the MANY CHARGES our Government has at it’s disposal to use against these seditionists is worth enduring his attempt to make a buck. I promise you won’t regret it. It’s only 15 minutes, and you’ll be better informed for having seen it.
I really love the thumbnail he’s used too!
“Y’ALL GOIN’ TO JAIL”