(StraightNews.org) — Federal Judges and the Department of Justice are punishing defendants for speaking about their experiences in Washington, DC, on January 6th, 2021. Judges also pass stricter sentences on those who won’t renounce their political beliefs. Criminal defense attorney Steven Metcalf describes the situation as “the most ridiculous, astounding chill on free speech that I’ve ever seen.”
Metcalf has discussed unconstitutional and punitive penalties imposed on defendants from January 6th. He describes the case of Peter Schwartz, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for aiming pepper spray at police. Prosecutors were seeking 24 years. Judge Amit Mehta, appointed under the Obama administration, later sentenced Stewart Rhodes to 18 years – the longest sentence so far.
In punishing Mr. Rhodes, Judge Mehta censured him for his political views. “You recently said in an interview that the 2020 election was not only stolen but taken by unconstitutional means. You said you had to find a way to fix that. Nothing has changed,” the Judge said. Both Metcalf and fellow defense attorney Norm Pattis say Mehta added years to the sentences because the defendants would not backtrack on their beliefs, or they had spoken to the press.
January 6th defendant Ryan Samsel has also spoken out and said he has been brutalized, beaten, and denied constitutional rights while held on remand in a New York prison. The prisoner has been communicating with the outside world and sending photos to the online publication The Gateway Pundit. Mr. Samsel said he has been kept in solitary confinement, hog-tied and beaten so badly that he has lost vision in one eye.
More than 1,000 people were charged with crimes related to the events of January 6th. Most face charges of entering or remaining on restricted federal property, while others are charged with assault or violence offenses. Hundreds were indicted on corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, while 55 faced trial for conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding.
Copyright 2023, StraightNews.org
