The attorney for one particular of the Oath Keeper associates billed with conspiracy and other crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is pushing for a venue improve for the case, arguing that his trial would be unfair because D.C. residents “despise” classic American values.
In a “motion to transfer venue” submitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the protection group for Navy veteran Thomas Caldwell argues that his circumstance need to be moved to the federal court in the Western District of Virginia.
The filing, which was 1st documented by BuzzFeed News, argued that Washington, D.C., is the “birthplace of ‘The Resistance,’ ” which it described as “a loosely organized motion amid left-wing activists to thwart President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump golf club reaches 0K settlement with NJ more than drunk driving crash Trump to attend fight of supporter Conor McGregor Giuliani’s legislation license in D.C. suspended Far more’s lawful executive orders and actions.”
Caldwell’s attorney particularly cited protests surrounding Trump’s 2016 inauguration, alleging that demonstrators ended up noticed “destroying organizations, cars, and other assets, and attacking Trump supporters.”
“District residents not only despise Caldwell’s politics — they despise numerous points that standard The us stands for,” Caldwell’s lawyer argued.
The 23-website page pleading argues, in essence, that the prosecution is political and the DC jury pool is incapable of providing a truthful verdict. “District citizens not only despise Caldwell’s politics—they despise several points that classic The usa stands for,” Caldwell statements. pic.twitter.com/a1induoQ8T
— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) July 1, 2021
“District citizens, who mainly style by themselves as chic, sophisticated, worldly, substantial-brow urbanites, are repulsed by rural America’s conventional values, patriotism, religion, gun ownership, and perceived deficiency of education,” the submitting included.
“Conversely, rural The us is repulsed by what it perceives as East and West Coastline progressive snobbery, habit to authorities funding, absence of moral values, and petulant intolerance for people with diverse viewpoints,” the motion mentioned, including, “To deny that the lion’s share of probable District jurors will be highly predisposed against a Trump-supporting defendant is like denying that water is liquid.”
The submitting argued that Caldwell “should be judged on the information of the scenario and the legislation, not on his prior guidance for President Trump.”
Caldwell, who faces 4 felony charges which includes conspiracy, alleges that not only was there no prepare to storm the Capitol but that he wasn’t an Oath Keeper. Prosecutors observe he was in frequent interaction with Oath Keeper management major up to Jan. 6.
— Ken Bensinger (@kenbensinger) July 1, 2021
Caldwell, as very well as added alleged Oath Keeper members these kinds of as Jessica Marie Watkins and Donovan Crowl, have just about every been charged with conspiracy to “stop, hold off and hinder Congress’s certification of the Electoral College or university vote.”
Also, Caldwell faces a series of other costs, like obstruction to an official processing, destruction of govt assets, and coming into and remaining in a restricted area.
Prosecutors have zeroed in on various users of the Oath Keepers, a much-suitable paramilitary group, among the 500 billed in link with the mob assault on the Capitol constructing as lawmakers satisfied to certify President Biden
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In a February courtroom submitting, prosecutors alleged that Caldwell, who was produced on bond in March thanks to well being worries, main up to the riot proposed a program to transport “heavy weapons” in a boat across the Potomac River in a concept to a member of the A few Percenters, an extremist gun legal rights militia.
Caldwell was also observed to have been in interaction with Oath Keeper leadership main up to Jan. 6, in accordance to prosecutors.