Lamberth rightly rejected the view that Chansley’s invasion of the Capitol was merely a peaceful exercise in civil disobedience, as Watkins repeatedly claims. Chansley’s statement leading up to January 6 and amid the riots suggests he is entering the Capitol “not to reflect on the Statuary Hall, but with the aim of disrupting the functions of our government through violence. “, the judge wrote. Chansley’s failure to deal with it, Lamberth said, proves the accused’s inability to be released.
The verdict also dealt a potentially fatal blow to the attempts of rioting suspects to portray themselves as innocent supporters of Trump’s false allegations that the 2020 election was stolen. Lamberth quoted his district court colleague, Chief Justice Beryl Howell, as dismissing Chansley’s attempt to attach his action to the former president, arguing that it actually strengthened the case to have him pending trial. This proves to Lamberth that Chansley has an “independent judgment” that could support the pre-trial release.
“The fact that the accused only left the building after President Trump told him to … further illustrate the defendants’ contempt for law enforcement,” Lamberth wrote.
Lamberth also rejected an argument by Chansley’s lawyer to dismiss the spear as a ‘flagpole’ with a decorative ‘spearhead’ attached as ‘unconvincing’. The spearhead was, Lamberth remarked, six inches long and sharp. “Whether a ‘spear’ or ‘a traditional Native American design’ is referred to as the sharpened metal tip, it is still, like a knife, inherently dangerous,” Lamberth said.
And Lamberth attributed the government’s argument that Chansley posed a flight risk due to his links with the QAnon community. Lamberth said Chansley was able to visit the country to attend protest rallies, although he had no known income.
Chansley’s TV interviews are not his only media appearance that has damaged his bid for release. Lamberth also cheated on Chansley for claiming to take no drugs other than marijuana, despite saying in a podcast that he used “psychoactive substances and mushrooms” as part of his “shamanistic practice”.
In his ruling on Monday, Lamberth revisited his earlier critique of Watkins for using his privileges as an attorney to arrange the ’60 Minute + ‘interview with Chansley, who is currently in jail in Alexandria, Va. The judge said the action undermined the lawyer’s argument that it would be much easier to consult with his client. if he is released.
“Such media appearances are undoubtedly conducive to the fame of the defense,” Lamberth wrote. ‘But they are not at all conducive to an argument that the only way lawyers can communicate privately with his client is if the accused is temporarily released. Given the defense’s decision to use a confidential video conference on a media audience, the argument is so frivolous that it insults the court’s intelligence. ‘