Decide rejects Jan. 6 defendant’s request to attend Trump’s inauguration
WASHINGTON — A choose rejected a request from a Jan. 6 defendant to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration after the person was invited by a former member of Congress, based on a courtroom order launched Friday.
The defendant, Russell Taylor, was accused of organizing a gaggle of “fighters” to journey to D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. In 2023, he pleaded responsible to obstructing an official continuing, and he went on to cooperate with the federal government by offering testimony towards the Three Percenters militia.
U.S. District Decide Royce Lamberth stated in a Friday order that “the actual nature and severity of Mr. Taylor’s conduct on the Capitol Riots counsel towards giving him the permission to journey that he now seeks,” operating by an inventory of Taylor’s actions previous to and throughout the assault on the Capitol.
“To attend the Presidential Inauguration, which celebrates and honors the peaceable switch of energy, is an immense privilege,” Lamberth stated.
“It could not be applicable for the Court docket to grant permission to attend such a hallowed occasion to somebody who carried weapons and threatened law enforcement officials in an try and thwart the final Inauguration, and who overtly glorified ‘[i]nsurrection’ towards america,” he added.
When reached for remark, Taylor’s lawyer Dyke E. Huish stated that Taylor was “disenchanted” however has the “utmost respect” for the choose and his choices.
Lamberth “has continued to deal with my consumer with respect and given him honest consideration,” Huish stated in an announcement. “Whereas this ruling is disappointing, as my consumer is a large supporter of president elect Trump, he does perceive the courtroom denial of his request.”
Huish added that Taylor will watch the inauguration on tv at residence, noting that they don’t have plans to enchantment the choose’s determination.
A spokesperson for the U.S. lawyer’s workplace for D.C. referred to prosecutors’ earlier filings. The workplace filed a movement in December opposing Taylor’s request to journey to D.C., urging the courtroom to “not look previous his prison conduct the final time he was on Capitol grounds.”
Former Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, wrote in a December letter to the choose that he and three present members of the Utah congressional delegation have been inviting Taylor to the inauguration, although Stewart didn’t specify which representatives have been extending the invitation.
“He’s admired by many, and particularly these in his group. Russ’ ardour for what is true and good is mirrored in his intentions to raise others,” Stewart stated in his letter praising Taylor.
Huish filed a request on Dec. 11 asking Lamberth to permit Taylor to journey to Washington for the inauguration.
In his letter, Huish wrote that Taylor “has remained compliant with all Court docket Orders and has not given any indications of hassle or concern,” including that Taylor “has demonstrated time and again that he’s reliable in his journey.”
Taylor’s sentence required him to get permission earlier than leaving components of California, the place he lives. Taylor had been sentenced to durations of probation and residential confinement.
In his Friday order, Lamberth famous that Taylor had taken “duty for his actions and furnished in depth help to the Authorities,” each causes for his lighter sentence in comparison with these of different Jan. 6 defendants.
“However Mr. Taylor’s cooperation and good conduct whereas on probation don’t diminish the seriousness of his acts on January 6, 2021, to which he has voluntary admitted, nor do they entitle him to the permission he now seeks,” Lamberth stated.
Taylor is just not the one Jan. 6 defendant to hunt permission to journey to the inauguration. Different defendants who’ve put in requests embody Christopher Belliveau, whose request was denied; Eric Peterson, whose request was granted; and William Pope, who has not but obtained a choice on his request, based on courtroom data.
