Former U.S. Olympic swimmer Klete Keller was sentenced to three years probation and six months of home detention for his involvement in the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Keller had pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and faced a possible sentence of 10 months in federal prison, but prosecutors asked for a sentence below the guideline range due to his cooperation and the "unconscionable" nature of his actions. The Department of Justice has charged more than 400 people in connection with the attack, with more charges expected.
Posts tagged as “Capitol”
A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has denied former President Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity from civil lawsuits brought by a group of congressional Democrats and veteran Capitol Police officers. The judges noted that Trump is alleged to have instigated the Capitol attack during his re-election campaign, and that he had not demonstrated an entitlement to official-act immunity for his actions. The ruling is a major setback for Trump, allowing the cases to move forward and potentially leading to legal accountability for his actions surrounding the Capitol attack.
On Friday, the House of Representatives will decide the fate of Representative George Santos of New York, who has been accused of repeatedly breaking the law. The House Ethics Committee released a report finding "substantial evidence" of his wrongdoing, and Santos held a press conference outside the Capitol, declaring that he will continue to fight to keep himself from being expelled. If the House votes to expel Santos, he would be just the sixth House member in U.S. history to be expelled and the first in more than 20 years.
Judge Chutkan has denied former President Trump's legal team's request to subpoena members of the House Jan. 6 select committee and others for evidence in his upcoming election interference trial, ruling that the request was a "fishing expedition" and too broad. Trump's attorneys have not yet said whether they will appeal the ruling, with the trial set to begin on February 8th and focus on allegations that Trump incited the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has raised questions about a Trump supporter convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, suggesting that the individual may be an undercover federal agent. Lee plans to ask FBI Director Christopher Wray about the image at the next oversight hearing, though the FBI has not yet responded to the inquiry. The suggestion has been met with criticism from some who believe Lee is attempting to downplay the severity of the incident.
A Denver District Court judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump can appear on the Colorado primary ballot in 2024, setting a precedent for other states. The ruling is a major victory for Trump, who is widely expected to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024, and a major setback for those who oppose him. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released a statement shortly after the ruling, confirming that Donald Trump is eligible to be placed on the Colorado ballot in the March Presidential Primary.
After a tumultuous few weeks in the Capitol, the House of Representatives passed a clean continuing resolution with bipartisan support, avoiding a potential government shutdown. This displeased some of the more hard-right members of the House, who had to compromise in order to pass the resolution, and there were even allegations of kidney punching in the House. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) commented on the situation, saying “They were better behaved than some of the people in this place.” The resolution has averted a potential government shutdown, but tensions remain high in the Capitol.
Michigan judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump can remain on the state's ballot for the 2024 presidential primaries, despite a legal challenge from a group of Michigan voters. Trump then brought a suit of his own, asking the same judge to bar Michigan election officials from knocking him off the ballot. The judge's decision means that Trump will remain on the ballot at least through the 2024 presidential primaries in the state, and it is unclear if the decision will be appealed or if other states will follow suit.