Trump’s Jan. 6 Political-Prisoner Pardons Could Address Some Real Injustices ~ VIDEO

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On his first day in office, President-elect Donald Trump promises he will pardon at least some of the 1,500 or so people who have been charged with crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

He notes that most of those defendants were not violent and that they faced a lot of pressure to plead guilty, as about 1,000 have done so far.

Trump’s most vociferous critics are apt to view any pardons in these cases as an outrageous and self-interested attempt to excuse the behavior of “insurrectionists” who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But even though Trump himself is largely to blame for the riot, which was inspired by his unfounded insistence that then-President-elect Joe Biden had stolen the election, [we shall see about that] he raises some valid points about prosecutorial power, which can lead to unjust results that might be remedied by the prudent use of presidential clemency.

As of November . 6, the Justice Department reports, about 590 people had been charged with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers” during the riot. They included 169 defendants “charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.”

More than 300 defendants had pleaded guilty to felonies, while 661 had pleaded guilty “only to misdemeanors.” Defendants who pleaded not guilty, by contrast, typically have been convicted of felonies.

Prosecutors had a bunch of potential charges to choose from, including misdemeanors such as demonstrating inside the Capitol, “disorderly or disruptive conduct,” and entering or remaining in a restricted building without authorization. Sentences in such cases ranged from probation to short jail terms. Even defendants who received relatively light sentences may have grounds to complain that the charges they faced were not deployed consistently.

According to a recent report from the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, four FBI informants “entered the Capitol during the riot,” while 13 “entered the restricted area around the Capitol.” [See “FBI had 26 informants at Jan. 6 Capitol riot — and most were involved, bombshell DOJ report confirms “.]

None of those informants have faced prosecution.

Although the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office claims that is consistent with its policy of “generally” not charging protesters who did not enter the Capitol itself, but that does not explain why the four informants who admittedly entered the building got off scot-free.

The potential felony charges in the Capitol riot cases, which carry much more severe penalties, include violent crimes such as assaulting police officers. But they also included offenses that were not necessarily violent, such as obstructing “an official proceeding,” which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison under 18 USC 1512(c)(2).

Given the possibility of such charges, Trump said on “Meet the Press” this month, defendants who pleaded guilty “had no choice.” Because prosecutors can severely penalize defendants who insist on a trial, he added, and the criminal justice system is “very corrupt” and “very nasty.”

The Section 1512 charge, which figures in about a quarter of the January . 6 case, illustrates that point. Although the Supreme Court ruled last June that the offense must involve attempts to conceal evidence, meaning it does not cover the conduct of the Capitol rioters, that seemingly important decision is expected to have little impact on the outcome of these cases.

The Justice Department says “there are zero cases where a defendant was charged only for violating” Section 1512. And even in the 26 cases where defendants pleaded guilty to that charge alone, the agreements explicitly allow prosecutors to pursue other charges now that they can no longer rely on this statute.

When you combine that sort of discretion with the puzzling practice of imposing sentences after trial based on allegations that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, it is not hard to see why some January . 6 defendants may have received excessively severe penalties.

If Trump draws appropriate distinctions and uses his clemency powers carefully — a big “if” — he can mitigate those injustices.


By Jacob Sullum

Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @Jacobsullum. During two decades in journalism, he has relentlessly skewered authoritarians of the left and the right, making the case for shrinking the realm of politics and expanding the realm of individual choice. Jacobs’ work appears here at AmmoLand News through a license with Creators Syndicate.

Jacob Sullum
Jacob Sullum

Biden Lawfare Victim: Political Persecution of Ordinary Citizens is Why Trump Must Win

In an exclusive interview with Hannah Knudsen at Turning Point USA's Young Women's Leadership Summit 2024, Joeylynn Mesaros detailed the political persecution she and her husband have faced for supposedly causing "emotional distress" to Joe Biden's supporters in the 2020 election, including almost four years of weaponized lawfare.

SEE: FREESPEECHDEFENDER.COM

The Fight for Free Speech: Our Story

Roberts and Joeylynn Mesaros, along with 4 other Texans, are being sued by Biden’s White House officials and Democrats politicians in Federal Court under the Ku Klux Klan Law of 1871 for simply driving next to the Biden Bus during its campaign in 2020. There are ZERO criminal charges. This is a CIVIL lawsuit where plaintiffs claim they have "EMOTIONAL DAMAGE" from the couple's exercise of FREE SPEECH and claim they are seeking FINANCIAL COMPENSATION; however, it is clear that what they are after is much greater.

As Americans witness the increasing weaponization of the DOJ against Conservatives, defending free speech is more important than ever. Robert and Joeylynn Mesaros are personally suffering from political persecution and abuse of the progressive left's attempts to keep Trump off the ballot. They are being used as a tool by Democrats who egregiously claim they are "political extremists," "threats to democracy", "white supremacists", and "MAGA extremists" (in Trump's impeachment trial, the 14th Amendment hearing, and across all mainstream media headlines) all for driving down a public highway.

Backed by progressive, far-left, non-profits (Texas Civil Rights Project and Protect Democracy), the plaintiff's 20+ DC attorneys are bankrupting the Mesaroses via lawfare. Robert and Joeylynn tapped into their son's college fund, set aside dreams of opening their own plumbing company, and cashed out their 401K, using the money to retain their attorney.  They have since run out of money, which makes it blatantly obvious that money isn’t what the left is after. The couple faces over $500,000 in legal defense fees alone as they have the burden of proving their innocence. They are fundraising to cover the remainder of the extremely costly legal defense fees. 

It is a travesty of justice to see an administration weaponize the law against average Americans for exercising basic Constitutional rights, and then to leverage the media to create heinous lies around the story, leaving the family defamed and without a voice to advocate for themselves. The Texas couple understands the scary precedent this could set at the federal level for Free Speech rights for ALL Americans, and they are determined to fight back and ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else. 

Your financial support to win this politically-phenomenal and precedent-setting legal battle is critical as Robert and Joeylynn hold the left accountable for weaponizing the judicial system against average Americans and keeping Free Speech free for everyone.

The Mesaroses have an optimistic attitude amidst the oppression as they believe God has called for their family to boldly stand up in the face of tyranny to maintain our God-given freedoms for generations to come. They expect to ultimately see a victory for Americans' First Amendment rights. Thank you for your prayers, financial contributions, and for joining the fight to defend Free Speech.

Join our Family of Defenders

With your financial help, Robert and Joeylynn can raise the funds needed for an aggressive legal defense to hold these corrupt politicians accountable. They are up against plaintiffs with 20+ attorneys, multiple non-profits funding their lawsuit, and deep donor pockets. Anything you can do would be life-changing for this family: $25, $50, $100, $500.

Robert and Joeylynn promise to be good stewards of every penny donated. They hope to recuperate legal fees and plan to start a fund where they help other Americans defend their God-given Constitutional right to free speech.

As mainstream media spreads malicious lies to defame and mischaracterize this family’s name, Robert and Joeylynn need your help raising awareness of the truth. Conservative media has been reluctant to share your story, so any connections you have for interviews or speaking opportunities would be greatly appreciated.

Robert and Joeylynn thank you for praying for their strength, courage, and determination to persevere in the struggle. Robert and Joeylynn believe prayer is powerful, and they appreciate you standing in agreement with them as they are a voice for the American people's Freedom of Speech.

Service Beyond Politics with Tulsi Gabbard

In today’s episode of the #playbook , I'm joined by Tulsi Gabbard, a trailblazer in American politics and a United States Army Reserve officer. As the first Samoan-American voting member and the first Hindu Congresswoman, Tulsi served Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. We explore her dedication to service, her insights on leadership, and her unique stance on political courage. Tulsi shares compelling views on the challenges of modern governance, the importance of service beyond traditional roles, and the profound impact of personal integrity in politics. We uncover the driving forces behind her commitment to change and service to the country, revealing how personal choice and dedication shape our national landscape

Guess Which Michigan Politicians Passed Up Chance to Condemn ‘Death to America’ Chants

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
For politicians, one would think it would have been an open-and-shut case, and in earlier, saner ages in our national life, it would have been. If a group of people in America get together and scream “Death to America,” officials ought to be lining up to condemn them, and there should be investigations and, if non-citizens are involved, deportations. We live, however, in Old Joe Biden’s America, in which the America-hating left is the dominant cultural force, and so some high-profile politicians have been notably wary about condemning calls for the destruction of the nation they have vowed to protect and defend.

The ugly scene unfolded last Friday at the International Al Quds Day rally in Dearborn. Al Quds Day is an annual event that Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini started in support of the Palestinians; even at its most peaceful, its rallies frequently feature calls for the destruction of Israel and a new genocide of the Jews.

In Dearborn, however, as a pro-Hamas activist named Tarek Bazzi denounced the United States as “one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth,” some of the people in the crowd screamed “al-mawt li Amrika,” that is, “Death to America.” As they did so, Bazzi stood with head bowed, waiting for them to go silent so that he could resume speaking. He gave no hint of disapproval of the chants.

When asked to condemn the chants, some Michigan politicians acted the same way. The Daily Caller reported Wednesday that it had contacted several Democrat elected officials in Michigan and asked them to condemn the chants, and not all of them were eager to jump on any patriotic bandwagon.

Some members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation had no problem doing so. Rep. Hillary Scholten declared: “I fully condemn this dangerous and disturbing rhetoric and will stand strong against hatred, bigotry, and anti-Semitism wherever it exists.”

Rep. Dan Kildee chimed in with this: “I unequivocally condemn such extreme and dangerous speech. Calling for violence, including the destruction of America, is wrong and should be denounced.”

Rep. Elissa Slotkin agreed: “Violent, hateful language has no place in our communities, no matter the cause." I’m grateful to the Dearborn leaders and others for making clear that these statements do not reflect the views of Michigan’s communities.”

All this was pro forma, standard-issue stuff: violence, hate, and bigotry have no place in our diverse blah blah blah. Modern-day politicians can rattle off this tired rhetoric in their sleep, and anyway, condemnations are easy: it is unlikely that Scholten, Kildee or Slotkin will take any action to try to address anti-American sentiment among Muslims in Dearborn. Call for schoolchildren to be educated in America’s virtues and contributions to the world? Call for a recovery of patriotism as a core value of any healthy society? Come on, man! That sort of thing could get them to lose the next election! At least they did, however, go on record condemning the “Death to America” chants. The courage it took to do so was apparently in short supply.

    Related: Yes, It Has Come to This: They’re Screaming ‘Death to America’ In Dearborn

Rep. Shri Thanedar’s office, in contrast, opted to “politely decline” to condemn the chants. The office wonks, however, apparently thought it over and decided that a condemnation was a politically safer path, for subsequently they issued a statement saying that “the Congressman condemns any chants calling for death to America.” Thanedar himself added: “I love America; I immigrated to the USA in 1979 and became a proud citizen in 1988. Any hate towards this great country must be condemned with the strongest words. I am deeply saddened by such attacks on American soil."

Thanedar was not alone in having cold feet, at least initially: Reps. Debbie Dingell, Haley Stevens, Debbie Stabenow, Gary Peters and (what did you expect?) Rashida Tlaib “refused to share their stance on the matter.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer likewise “did not respond to a request for comment.”

It’s not hard to see why. The Muslim population in Michigan has grown rapidly. Just as Old Joe Biden is betraying Israel to try to ensure that he carries Michigan in November, so also Whitmer and the others have to reckon with the Muslim vote when considering whether they really want to come down against chanting “Death to America.” Of course, if the “Death to America” chanters get their way and America really dies, those who declined to stand for this nation in order to secure short-term political support will look awfully silly. But they aren’t thinking that far ahead.

Religious-Themed Designs Banned From WH Easter Egg Roll Art Event

Religious-Themed Designs Banned From White House Easter Egg Roll Art Event

White House Easter Egg Roll
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 10: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. The tradition dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes invited children to the White House for Easter and egg rolling on the lawn. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
White House Easter Egg Roll WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 10: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023 in Washington, DC. The tradition dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes invited children to the White House for Easter and eggs rolling on the lawn. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
11:18 AM – Saturday, March 30, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/religious-themed-designs-banned-from-wh-easter-egg-roll-art-event/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

The White House has banned religious-themed designs from the Easter egg art event. 

Religious Easter egg designs will not be accepted by the National Guard children for the 2024 “Celebrating National Guard Families” art event at the White House.

Along with the yearly Easter Egg Roll, the White House celebrates Easter with an art competition. A contest flyer specifies that an Easter egg design entry “must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.” 

“As part of the White House Easter traditions, America’s Egg Farmers—for nearly 50 years—have proudly presented an intricately decorated Commemorative Easter Egg to the First Lady of the United States. In 2021, the White House expanded on this long-standing tradition by displaying youth-designed Easter eggs in the White House East Colonnade,” the flyer explains. “On behalf of First Lady Jill Biden, the Adjutants General of the National Guard are asking youth from National Guard families across the United States and all U.S. territories to submit artwork inspired by the theme ‘Celebrating our Military Families.’”

Kids are asked to paint eggs with pictures from their own lives. “Selected designs representing the unique experience and stories of National Guard children will be brought to life on real hen eggs by talented egg artists from across the country and displayed at the White House this Easter and Passover season,” the advertisement states.

Additionally, content that encourages “bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age” cannot be used in educational settings by children. 

Children will paint a few chosen designs on actual eggs, which will be on display at the White House.

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