Running the True Crime blog for The Washington Post, focus on crime, policing and courts. Devotee of live music, late nights, lazy Sundays. Proud Guild member.
And they are out: Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart walk out of the Baltimore city courthouse after 36 yrs for a crime they didn’t do:
"I'm doing this primarily because of the impact Asperger's had on your actions," McFadden said. Rodean was allowed to keep his job as a dog walker, his family promised to be hyper vigilant. It seemed exactly the right outcome, from a judge often criticized as a 'Trump appointee.'
A short thread: Just watched an amazing sentencing of Jan. 6 defendant Nicholas Rodean, who is on the autism spectrum with Asperger's Syndrome. He smashed two windows at the Capitol, and was convicted in a one-day bench trial. The government sought 57 months in prison.
At 15th and Penn, crowd chanting “Take a knee!” at a line of cops. And one did. He knelt down in the line. The crowd roared, and a supervisor yanked the (black male) officer by his collar out of the line. They argued briefly and he returned to the line.
One of the three Oath Keepers charged with conspiracy in the Jan. 6 riot, Donovan Crowl, was just ordered held without bond. Govt cited Oath Keepers webpage declaring Biden Admin, militias should muster. Pretrial recommended release, judge in Dayton said no.
McFadden had earlier reduced the sentencing range to 21-27 months, which the prosecutor said was fine. McFadden then went below that, and gave Rodean eight months of home detention, with 30 minutes of internet per day, and five years of probation.
In the tone you would use with a 9-year-old, the judge asked: "Mr. Rodean, are you ever going to do this again?" Rodean said no. I thought I was going to cry. His lawyer had pointed out that prison for him would be horrendous. McFadden agreed.
Breaking: Fairfax Judge Robert Smith rules against Gingrich, issues certificate requiring him to testify before Ga. grand jury in election probe. Preview story here;
Then it came time for him to speak. He rambled about antifa and BLM and what he did and that he was very sorry for his crimes. It was heartbreakingly obvious that he had Asperger's. He covered his ears when his lawyer tried to help. Then Judge Trevor McFadden asked one question.
I did not watch his trial, but he was photographed alongside Jacob Chansley, the QAnon shaman. His lawyer and family said he is a 'maniacal rule follower' who truly did just follow the crowd from the Capitol, and whose support systems collapsed in the pandemic.
@MollyJongFast
Dear God will you please rake the leaves this weekend they are really piling up in God's name we ask you. Amen. (Just to the curb, no bagging needed)
The
@washingtonpost
celebrates three Pulitzers, with winners Toluse Olorunnipa and Robert Samuels (left of pillar), Eli Saslow (checked shirt) and Caroline Kitchener (brown dress), applauded by Executive Editor Sally Buzbee.
New: Alabama man Lonnie Coffman, found with 11 enhanced molotov cocktails, multiple loaded guns on Jan. 6, gets 46-month sentence. Came to DC to find out if the election was stolen, been in jail ever since:
What a story. Timid and conservative FBI agents did not want to search Mar-a-Lago for classified docs, led by DC SAC Steven D’Antuono, who said “We’re not the presidential records police.” By
@CarolLeonnig
@DevlinBarrett
@PerryStein
Breaking: Fla. man who hurled fire extinguisher (twice), pole and a plank at police during Jan. 6 Capitol riot sentenced to 5 years for assault on police, the longest sentence yet:
This is quite a statement being made by Mayor Bowser and Chief Newsham. You handle your territory, we'll handle ours. So the feds militarize the Lincoln Memorial, and the DC cops don't even enforce their own curfew. And no one gets gassed! (Yet) A better outcome.
Boy, watching some true giants of journalism clearing out of The Post newsroom today is really demoralizing: Bob Barnes, Supreme Court guru; Valerie Strauss, education czar; Lenny Bernstein, tireless health and drugs reporter; John McDonnell, amazing photographer. Super sad.
Trump's case has been assigned to Judge Tanya Chutkan, the toughest Jan. 6 sentencing judge. As of mid-June,she'd handled 31 sentences and sent every one to jail or prison-no other judge has done that.
Also,she's gone above govt recommendation 9 times, many havent gone over once.
All three members of this group -- Tom Caldwell, Jessica Watkins and Crowl -- have now been ordered held without bond, none of which has been recorded on PACER, for some reason. No record of Watkins and Crowl hearings.
Another juror says he doesn't watch the news at all. "There's been research done that not paying attention to the news increases happiness." Much laughter in the press room.
#truthhurts
PG Police make a bad mistake, raid wrong house. Homeowner shoots back. Two cops wounded. Police chief apologizes, no charges for homeowner. Amazing transparency by
@PGPDNews
and Chief Stawinski. All in one day.
Sentencing is beginning in Jan 6 case of Audrey Southard-Rumsey
Prosecutors will ask for 6 years prison, arguing she went on "violent rampage" in Capitol. And they say, while carrying a pole, she was a "principal agitator" in the mob -- and called "for a 1776-style revolution"
New: The US govt acknowledges it is holding journalist Marzieh Hashemi in jail as a 'material witness,' no sign of when she will be released or reason why. She anchors Press TV English language news in Iran, US citizen living in Tehran for 25 yrs:
@lhfang
@Olivianuzzi
Thanks for the baseless generalizations. Any data? Most of the stiffs I’ve worked with are the opposite of what you say: underpaid regular joes who do care about what matters.
It has been three years since the siege of the U.S. Capitol on the day Congress was set to certify the 2020 election results. Since the attack, more than 1,200 Americans have been charged for their roles.
@MacFarlaneNews
has more on how that event continues to impact lives of
Chauvin gets tossed in jail immediately, no waiting for sentencing, no surrendering at a future date. Judge hears no argument on it. Chauvin stands, puts his hands behind his back, and is walked out of the courtroom in cuffs.
New on True Crime: Study of 2,400 exonerations over 30 years finds more than half of all wrongful criminal convictions are caused by government misconduct, mainly by police and prosecutors:
Federal judge orders Denver police to stop using gas or projectiles against protesters. Says DPD used excessive force and chilled free speech. "The Denver Police Department has failed in its duty to police its own." - R. Brooke Jackson
Here's what we know so far about U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died yesterday. Jersey native, former NJ Natl Guard, deployed twice, well-liked at Capitol. Always wanted to be a cop. Sixth line of duty death for USCP:
The Sig Sauer P320, a popular handgun used by police departments across the US, fires without anyone pulling the trigger, dozens of victims say, and we have videos showing some of the discharges. A joint investigation with
@teamtrace
, and no paywall here
Great piece by
@MacFarlaneNews
about the truly talented courtroom artist Bill Hennessy, who’s had a front row seat to a lot of American courtroom history.
Bill Hennessy has been one of the most prolific courtroom artists for decades — sketching some of the nation's highest-profile trials and legal proceedings, where cameras often are not allowed.
Man shot by Secret Service officer outside White House apparently was holding a comb, documents show. Comb-wielding man is charged with assault on a police officer, after the officer shot him. He is now in psychiatric care. What makes sense here?
Two Rochester-area men who fought with cops on the perimeter on Jan. 6, pepper-sprayed officers at the Capitol, then lied about it to the FBI were sentenced today to 44 months in prison. One re-enlisted in the Army after Jan. 6.
Breaking: 3rd Oath Keeper pleads to sedition in Capitol riot, provides more details of Jan. 6 planning, says multiple weapons stashes were readied outside DC, leader Stewart Rhodes wanted Trump to use force:
New: FBI still won’t say who was wounded, or why, in ‘agent-involved shooting’ aboard Metro train. It was just a taxpayer-funded agent and shots fired during morning rush. Guessing the agent was not the one shot, but who knows?
Breaking: National Guard commander says police suddenly moved on Lafayette Square protesters, used ‘excessive force’ before Trump visit, by me and
@CarolLeonnig
Tony Ornato, deputy chief of staff for operations in the Trump White House and Secret Service detailee, told the Jan. 6 committee he didn't know who the Proud Boys were, despite the whole presidential debate thing. Or his job.
Fox News stars questioned by election tech company in defamation case, seek info on what they knew vs. what they said on air, by
@rachelweinerwp
and
@jeremymbarr
He opted to skip graduation and work a shift at Waffle House. His boss was not having it: ‘I was going to get him there no matter what.’ Waffle House is the best.
A jury just convicted Hale-Cusanelli of all five counts, including felony obstruction. Judge McFadden then said he would consider an 'obstruction of justice' enhancement of Hale-Cusanelli's sentence, for his 'highly dubious' claims that he didn't know Congress met in the Capitol.
Been watching the trial of Jan 6 defendant Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, an avowed white racist and Hitler fan (not in evidence) charged with obstructing the electoral vote count. He took the stand this afternoon … 1/2
The 7-year sentence imposed on Kyle Young is the longest yet for a Jan. 6 defendant who pleaded guilty (10 yrs is the most for a def't convicted at trial.). Would have faced a range of 4-5 yrs if not for his lengthy record of meth dealing in Iowa.
Breaking: ex-Senate intelligence comm staffer James Wolfe pleading guilty to lying to feds. Denied speaking with reporters, dated NYT reporter. No leaking charge.
@ryanjreilly
It would appear the officer did not observe Springsteen driving the motorcycle, which makes both the DWI and the reckless driving charges dubious. And everyone knows there are 45 steps in the E Street Shuffle.
New: We've tracked every federal case filed against Jan. 6 rioters, and found that the judges have gone below govt recommended sentences in two-thirds of cases so far. Only 74 sentencings after a yr, 627 remain. With
@rachelweinerwp
and
@hsu_spencer
Virginia abolishes the death penalty, becoming the first Southern state to ban its use. Northam ceremonially signed the bill at the Greensville Correctional Center near Jarratt, site of the state’s execution chamber.
N.Y. judge’s son who dressed as cave man in Jan. 6 riot sentenced to 8 months for felony civil disorder, first of 200 defendants facing similar charge to be sentenced. 12th felony sentencing, by
@hsu_spencer
:
Breaking on True Crime: Baltimore to pay $48 million to the 'Harlem Park 3,' men wrongly imprisoned for 36 years. Police and prosecutorial misconduct both to blame.
What a story! How D.C.’s police union lodge made thousands selling Jack Daniel’s whiskey online and at police conferences (which, uh, does not appear to be legal), by
@phscoop
@Fahrenthold
and
@postmetrogirl
Protesters outside
@washingtonpost
now complaining that we haven’t had enough coverage of climate change. We have an entire desk devoted to it. NYT had a similar event last weekend.