1/6 Insurrection Investigation

[Rick Plant]

Bill Barr in talks to cooperate with Capitol riot committee, according to reports

In recent memoir, former attorney general condemns ‘absurd lengths’ to which Trump took his baseless ‘stolen election’ claims

Former US attorney general Bill Barr has discussed cooperating with the House select committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, an assault fuelled by a baseless “stolen election” narrative that Mr Barr had previously rejected.

Mr Barr, who resigned from Donald Trump’s administration roughly one month before he left office, is reportedly discussing whether to sit for a formal interview following previous contact with members of the committee, according to Axios and CBS News.

The former president criticised Mr Barr for failing to investigate his spurious claims of voter fraud, characterising him as a “disappointment in every sense of the word” after Mr Barr told The Associated Press that federal law enforcement did not find any evidence of alleged fraud that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, despite Mr Trump’s insistence.

Mr Barr later condemned Mr Trump’s “inexcusable” response to the attack on the Capitol.

In a recent memoir, he claimed the former president “went off the rails” following the election, which he lost due to his “self-indulgence and lack of self-control.”

He also condemned “the absurd lengths to which he took his ‘stolen election’ claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill” and urged Republicans to seek another nominee in the 2024 election, for which Mr Trump “has shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers” to lead.

The committee – which is scheduled to begin public hearings next month – previously had an “informal conversation” with Mr Barr to determine whether he had information related to the attack of the actions of former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, who attempted to use federal resources to delay the certification of 2020 results, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee report.

Last year, the committee voted to recommend criminal charges of contempt of Congress against Mr Clark, though he later appeared before the committee, during which he reportedly asserted his right against self-incrimination dozens of times.

Jeffrey Rosen, Mr Barr’s successor as acting attorney general, sat for an interview with the committee for roughly eight hours last October.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bill-barr-capiol-riot-jan-6-committee-b2083322.html

[Rick Plant]

Buffalo, Jan. 6 and the rise of partisan violence: These scholars saw it coming
https://www.salon.com/2022/05/21/buffalo-jan-6-and-the-rise-of-partisan-violence-these-scholars-saw-it-coming/

[Rick Plant]

Former prosecutor urges Jan 6th committee to haul Ginni Thomas in over Arizona election emails

Appearing on MSNBC with host Katie Phang, former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said that, some difficulties aside, the Jan 6th committee investigating the Capitol riot should haul Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, into the witness chair to be questioned on her part attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

Reacting to a bombshell report that Thomas was in contact with Arizona election officials, with the New York Times reporting the wife of the jurist "twice lobbied the speaker of the Arizona House and another lawmaker to effectively reverse Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s popular-vote victory and deliver the crucial swing state to Donald J. Trump," Vance was asked by the host what should happen next.

"Why is this not news enough, or new news enough, to put her in an interview sea to answer questions?" the MSNBC host pressed.

"It should put Ginni Thomas in an interview seat, probably from the committee, certainly from the Justice Department," Vance replied. "Katie, we live in a world where there is sensitivity surrounding Supreme Court justices and their families. I think it will be difficult, frankly, for people to navigate these issues. It should in fact be simple, because if Ginni Thomas was anyone else with the sort of knowledge that she has displayed on multiple issues, investigators would sit down and have a chat with her, not necessarily that she is a target for investigation."

"They would want to know what she knows," she elaborated. "What is important here is that there's this incredible coincidence that she is out pushing this scheme that we know, ultimately, comes to fruition with those closest to Trump. This scheme to create blank slates of electors -- the ones that are not the choice of the people but instead are patsies for the former president -- people who are supposed to go in and do his work for him."

"And that is a little too close for comfort, that coincidence, so that warrants further investigation," she concluded.

Watch below:

[Rick Plant]

Giuliani meets with January 6 committee for more than 9 hours

Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s onetime personal attorney and a lead architect of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, on Friday met with the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection, two sources told CNN.

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

Judge sentences Maryland’s Matthew Miller to 33 months prison, 18 months less than feds sought.

Miller claimed to drink 10 beers on Jan 6 and said he carried Confederate flag to mark “states rights”.. judge cited Miller’s youth and lack of criminal record during hearing.

Feds were seeking 51 months (4+ years) arguing Miller "unleashed" contents of fire extinguisher on officers, threw items (including batteries) at officers in tunnel, scaled wall with toppled bike rack barrier.




Prosecutors:  "Miller, while draped in a Confederate flag, threw a full beer can approximately 30 yards, in the direction of law enforcement".




Miller's defense submitted this photo... and, in request for leniency, argued "he was both drunk and high when he fell in with the mob marching towards the Capitol"




Miller has pleaded guilty to count 2 of his indictment... obstruction

Prosecutor says Miller encouraged others to get closer to Capitol Building amid the chaos on Jan 6.

Prosecutor says Miller "hurled a full beer can 30 yards in the direction of police".

Prosecutor played extended videos from Jan 6 of the West front tunnel. You can hear the ominous, chilling scream of "HEAVE-HO" as mob attempts to overpower police.

Prosecutor: "What else did Mr. Miller do?  He decided to throw batteries into the tunnel at police officers"

She then calls the battle on Jan 6 a "medieval battle" and says Miller then unleashed and discharged contents of fire extinguisher on the officers.

Prosecutor: "Many officers were injured, bleeding and fatigued, by they continued to hold the line."

"A crime of this magnitude demands a serious sentence...there's no reason to vary outside the applicable guidelines"

Feds wanted a 51-month prison sentence (4+ years)

The judge stated that a 22-year-old's judgment is not as good as those who are older.

Judge: "I wonder how I compare a drunk 22 year old to some of these other folks who were stone sober, in their 40's,
 who knew a lot better."

Judge ruled a 33 month sentence.

[Rick Plant]

Feds seek 1-year prison for Jan 6 defendant Dennis Sidorski of Virginia.

They argue Sidorski entered Pelosi office suite and posted on Jan 5: "Those idiot lawmakers in the Capitol building have no idea what civil unrest is till we the people march"

And discarded his shirt.

[Rick Plant]

Roger Stone's tax problems may yield a 'treasure trove' of info for the Jan 6th committee: report

A long-simmering battle between former Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone and the IRS could yield a treasure trove of information for the House select committee investigating the "Stop the Steal" rally and subsequent Jan 6th insurrection.

According to a report from the Daily Beast's Roger Sollenberger, attorneys for the Justice Department made an appeal to a judge in federal court on Monday that would force Stone and his wife to turn over all of their financial records dating back to 2017.

The latest legal move is related to a tax evasion lawsuit brought by the government against the conservative political gadfly last year who has been accused of hiding his income sources.

According to the report, "The judge’s order would force the Stones to disclose a potential treasure trove of evidence. Prosecutors would obtain records of any financial activity of Stone tied to the Jan. 6 riot and “Stop the Steal” efforts, as well as potential payments from pardon-seekers, politicians, and private boosters—and, possibly, information about accounts that the Stones haven’t yet disclosed," adding, "So far, however, the Stones have refused to comply."

As Sollenberger explained, Stone and the government just ended mediation talks that did not go well and both parties have now "come out of those negotiations swinging."

At the center of the battle is Stone's political consulting business, Drake Ventures LLC, with DOJ investigators claiming it is being used to hide unreported income and expenses over the years that should be taxable.

"Those records could verify the Stones’ finances, corroborate statements from their accountants, and possibly reveal activity related to other entities or accounts. Those would include the Roger Stone Defense Fund, organizations that financed events surrounding the Jan. 6 rallies, and any payments for pardon advocacy in the waning weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency," Sollenberger wrote. "The request means the DOJ also wants to see how Stone used Drake Ventures over the last year, while he was knowingly under the legal microscope."

Read more here:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-a-tax-case-could-force-roger-stone-to-cough-up-jan-6-records?ref=home

[Rick Plant]

In a new Capitol riot prosecution, Colorado defendant is linked to Proud Boys and accused of attacking member of news media

Feds alllege Rod Millstreed is seen here assaulting media member.