Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. He was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, entering or remaining on restricted grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon and disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. At his sentencing hearing, Hostetter continued to spread conspiracy theories and called for the execution of Donald Trump's political enemies, prompting the judge to call his actions "a direct assault on the heart of our democracy."
Posts tagged as “Capitol”
Colorado Supreme Court is set to review a legal challenge on Wednesday that aims to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot in the state in 2024. The challenge is based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which states that those who have engaged in insurrection against the United States are ineligible for office. The case has drawn widespread attention, as it could set a precedent for other states to follow, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the 2024 presidential election.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that former President Donald Trump can face civil lawsuits over claims that he incited violence on January 6th. The lawsuits stem from an interview in which Trump criticized former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis echoed his sentiment. The ruling allows the civil lawsuits to move forward, while permitting Trump to re-raise immunity defenses down the line.
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.
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.