Question of the Day

Okay here’s the situation. A guy intentionally crashes a truck across the street from the White House. He is quoted as saying that he wants to “get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation”. He pretty obviously needs psychiatric help. He is arrested on a variety of charges including trespassing, damage to property, assault with a deadly weapon, reckless driving, and “threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict harm on a president, vice president or family member”. He appears to be an Indian national; there’s some confusion over whether he’s a lawful permanent resident or not.

All but the least serious charges are subsequently dismissed.

Here’s my question: what’s going on? Do the authorities figure that the least significant charges are a slam dunk and sufficient to deport him? Or is it something else?

25 comments… add one
  • bob sykes Link

    I am going with non-event. A random whack job flips out and is rounded up.

  • Jan Link

    A guy, involved in the J6 protests, was filmed putting his feet on Pelosi’s desk, and just received 4.5 years for that infraction. I guess he would have been better off ramming a truck near the WH, and making all kinds of threats against against the government.

  • PD Shaw Link

    The deportation angle seems best. He may not be fit for trial, in which case trial is continued until he is.

    He may have insanity defenses against some but not all offenses. Men’s rea is not necessarily an element of lesser offenses.

  • steve Link

    The guy with his feet on the desk claimed to be just an innocent who got caught up in things. He was also carrying around a stun gun and a 10 pound metal pole. Also left a trail of online comments suggesting he was not just casually visiting.

    I am betting they just wanted one good charge against him while they figured out what to do with him.

    Steve

  • Thanks, PD. If mens rea (lit. “guilty mind”, i.e. intent) is not necessary to prove someone is guilty of, say, destruction of property and that’s enough to justify deportation, it sounds like a good idea. However, if it results in his being released with a slap on the hand, it would be bad, at least from a cosmetic standpoint.

  • PD Shaw Link

    I think Andrew Sullivan could have been deported for possession of a small amount of marijuana, but I’m not sure what the standards are.

    Serious mental health issues would make prosecution more difficult and time-consuming, and possibly place the government in a position to trying to cure his illness or pay for his institutionalization. If he’s not a citizen, I can easily see the cold calculation that he is someone else’s problem and he has no right to stay here anyway.

    I don’t think he would get a simple slap on the hand. He’s obviously a dangerous to himself or others, and would be institutionalized. The feds aren’t New York, they have free reign to borrow as much money as needed.

  • jan Link

    That “guy” was a 62 year old retired firefighter. A stun gun is not considered a firearm, and is legal to carry, except in a handful of states. DC is not one of them. However, stun guns can’t be carried into federal buildings, which is why it was hidden and never used. The pole was part of the flag he was carrying. And, his posing in Pelosi’s office was due to two photographers asking him to look relaxed for the picture they took of him. IMO, 4.5 years for mischief-making consisting of clowning around, with no desecration or destruction of property, is far more severe than any rioters in Portland received, doing far worse. But, then that is how subjective, partisan justice is rendered under the Biden regime and DOJ.

    In the meantime, more questions arise about the unorthodox behavior of the FBI, becoming more provocateurs during the 4 hour Capitol building protest, than trying to keep the peace.

    https://thefederalist.com/2023/05/25/the-fbi-knows-what-car-was-used-in-j6-dnc-pipe-bomb-but-refuses-to-identify-prime-suspect/

    Earlier this month, an FBI whistleblower told the Washington Times the FBI identified the vehicle the suspect entered shortly after planting the bombs but has not pursued the individual.

    “The FBI had surveillance video that showed the person entering a car with a visible license plate after exiting a Metro stop in Northern Virginia,” the Times reported.

    Kyle Seraphin, a former FBI agent who worked on the case, told the paper that the agency “tied whoever the person was that dropped the bombs with [surveillance] cameras all the way through the train and getting into a car with that license plate.” Seraphin also told the Washington Times that the two bombs were inoperable.

    Both Trump and DeSantis have said they would pardon most of the J6 prisoners – most of whom were non-violent. That would be delayed but deserved justice.

  • Zachriel Link

    jan: However, stun guns can’t be carried into federal buildings, which is why it was hidden and never used.

    So, according to you, Barnett broke the law while trying to stop the legal certification of the presidential election.

  • steve Link

    It was illegal to carry the stun gun in even if he did not use it. We just got a new flagpole for our flag. Weighs less than a pound. We have video of people hitting police with heir flag poles. I had assumed they were the wooden or aluminum/light metal ones most people carry at marches. A 10 pound steel pole can do real damage, and it’s just not believable that you were going to casually carry around a pole that heavy all day. Plus, you are leaving out stuff. He stole stuff from the office.

    “However, stun guns can’t be carried into federal buildings, which is why it was hidden and never used.”

    So it’s ok to carry illegal weapons as long as you hide them and dont use them. I cant remember, did you oppose stop and frisk?

    Steve

  • Zachriel Link

    jan: A stun gun is not considered a firearm

    No, but it is a dangerous weapon used in conjunction with other felonious behavior.

    jan: However, stun guns can’t be carried into federal buildings, which is why it was hidden and never used.

    No, the stun gun was in plain view, a ZAP Hike N Strike 950,000 Volt Stun Gun walking stick.

  • Drew Link

    Fascinating to watch people get so fact specific about certain aspects of Jan 6 while ignoring the ginormous fact that mountains of film – evidence – was hidden during the hearing to propagandize the event. Evidence that paints a quite different overall picture. Makes one think it was a heavy dose of political charade. Nah. Couldn’t be. (snicker)

    The Jan 6 event was a combination of a small group breaking the law and a larger group getting caught up in the moment. It shouldn’t have happened. (But where was Nancy, and the Capitol Police?) The reaction as this being nearly a coup is a level of hysteria that can only be described as bizarre, and discredits as cheap political opportunists/propagandists those feigning outrage.

  • Zachriel Link

    Drew: The Jan 6 event was a combination of a small group breaking the law and a larger group getting caught up in the moment.

    Hundreds have already been prosecuted, hundreds more charged.

    Drew: Fascinating to watch people get so fact specific about certain aspects of Jan 6 while ignoring the ginormous fact that mountains of film – evidence – was hidden during the hearing to propagandize the event.

    Trial courts have rules of evidence. Defendants were given the opportunity to review any media that showed their activity at the Capitol, including media showing when they weren’t breaking the law. Here’s someone sweetly hugging a little girl.

    Drew: The reaction as this being nearly a coup is a level of hysteria that can only be described as bizarre

    “Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!” Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was just sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy.

  • steve Link

    “The Jan 6 event was a combination of a small group breaking the law and a larger group getting caught up in the moment.”

    That is basically correct. The small group numbers in the hundreds and the larger group in the many thousands. BTW, this is largely true for every demonstration that turns into a riot. However, in this case many of the people in the small group of bad actors planned to behave badly well before the event, and they helpfully memorialized their plans on social media and in emails.

    The stuff “not released” actually was released but didnt show anything that was pertinent except that a lot of people, as you noted, were there just for the ride.

    Steve

  • jan Link

    It took literally years before the Russia Collusion investigation could be sorted out as an orchestrated event, built on a thicket of lies provided primarily by Hillary Clinton, the FBI, and various prominent players from the Obama Administration (including Obama himself and Joe Biden). Durham will be testifying before Congress next month, hopefully offering additional clarity surrounding such a deceptive political ruse, which abused our institutions of governance just to unseat a sitting president.

    It will probably take the same amount of time, and culling through covered-up evidence, to reveal the real promoters and players behind the J6 protests. Questions about: how many FBI were planted in the crowd, including the enigmatic Ray Epps; why did Capitol police open doors, chat with protesters, remove barricades waving people into the Capitol Building; unlock heavy magnetically-locked doors from the inside are yet to be answered. Why was the FBI surveillance film of the guy planting bombs so fuzzy, indicating it was tampered with? Why was the culprit not followed up on and identified, especially when the FBI had possession of a vehicle license number? Why did Pelosi and Mayor Bowser deny Trump’s early requests for a National Guard presence, and then ignore multiple calls for help by the head of the Capitol Police (who then resigned)? Why was a protest having no firearms immediately labeled an “insurrection,” when even Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, who was there conveniently filming the interior crowds of people, scoffed at it being called an insurrection? Why did the police, early on, throw flash grenades and pepper a non-agitated gathering of people with rubber bullets – actions that initiated the mayhem and confusion that followed? Experts in police tactics have heavily criticized how the Capitol Police carried out, what should have been crowd-stabilizing measures, causing the deaths of 5 people – one shot, one beaten to death and the others having medical emergencies that failed to be addressed.

    Supposedly, John Solomon now has all 14,000 hours of footage of the protest, that Pelosi would not release to the public. He is one of the few honest investigative reporters around anymore. Consequently, I’m sure a more complete picture of the event will eventually be pieced together, perhaps even exonerating those who have been imprisoned, without due process, for years.

  • Zachriel Link

    jan: It took literally years before the Russia Collusion investigation could be sorted out as an orchestrated event, built on a thicket of lies

    Actually, the evidence indicates that the Russian interfered in the election campaign for the benefit of Trump, the Trump campaign welcomed that help, and there were contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian agents that constituted a grave national security threat.

    The Horowitz report determined the investigation was properly predicated, while the Durham report thought a preliminary investigation was warranted.

    jan: Why did Pelosi and Mayor Bowser deny Trump’s early requests for a National Guard presence

    They did not have that power. Nor did Trump provide any order for the National Guard.

    jan: Why was a protest having no firearms immediately labeled an “insurrection,”

    The founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, was just sentenced to a long term in prison for seditious conspiracy. By the way, there were firearms and other dangerous weapons among the mob and stashed nearby.

  • steve Link

    ” It took literally years before the Russia Collusion investigation could be sorted out ”

    Actually, the Mueller investigation too just a bit over 1 1/2 years. Durham took about 4 1/2 years and now it is continuing with Comer.

    There are two things almost always true about GOP “investigations”. First, they are very long, often repeated. Second, they never find anything.

    Steve

  • Jan Link

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/house-votes-hold-attorney-general-eric-holder-contempt-congress-flna852133

    https://www.dailysignal.com/2014/08/17/hiding-inspector-generals-say-obama-obstructing-justice/

    Steve, the Dems are experts in stonewalling, foot dragging, and obfuscating their way out of showing their culpability in investigations dealing with any corruption or malfeasance on their part. This includes serious requests made by republicans or IGs, as exemplified by the above two links. It has actually become a pattern of consistently “acceptable” behavior. for the Dems, and indictable behavior for the republicans. Just look at FBI Ray’s insistence not to turn over an unclassified document (FD -1023) submitted earlier, but not acted upon, to the FBI, by a whistleblower, supposedly substantiating his clam that Biden took bribes in order for policy changes to happen.

  • Jan Link

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/10/fbi-wont-give-congress-whistleblower-document-alle/

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/house-votes-hold-attorney-general-eric-holder-contempt-congress-flna852133

    https://www.dailysignal.com/2014/08/17/hiding-inspector-generals-say-obama-obstructing-justice/

    When there is stonewalling, foot dragging, obfuscation, and usage of NDAs investigations are hampered, statute of limitations run out, or disinterest sets in to fully pursue and find evidence needed to resolve an illegal event. Dems have a notorious record of not cooperating in investigations into their incompetence, criminal or unethical behavior. For instance, Eric Holder was the only AG to be held in contempt of Congress – a claim to fame the current director of the FBI is flirting with, by withholding the document requested by the House’s bribery investigation into Biden. In 2014 a majority of IGs wrote a letter complaining of Holder’s DOJ obstruction of Justice ploys in their investigations.

  • Zachriel Link

    jan: Eric Holder was the only AG to be held in contempt of Congress

    The issue was taken to federal court where the judge found no basis for holding the Attorney General in contempt. The judge did order documents that were not both predecisional and deliberative to be turned over. However, other documents could be withheld. Ultimately, the underlying concern about operations to track gun smuggling found that the operations were not properly planned or executed.

    jan: Just look at FBI Ray’s insistence not to turn over an unclassified document (FD -1023) submitted earlier, but not acted upon, to the FBI, by a whistleblower, supposedly substantiating his clam that Biden took bribes in order for policy changes to happen.

    Congress certainly has oversight, but there is also the issue of separation of powers. Generally, Congress can’t intefere in ongoing investigations or in the deliberative process of the executive branch.

  • Jan Link

    Zach, the FD-1023 document requested was unclassified and given over to the FBI by a whistleblower to be investigated. Very much like Hunter’s lap top, or his IRS malfeasance, nothing was done which is why the whistleblower has turned to the House for his voice to be heard. Separation of powers has nothing to do with the FBI deliberately ignoring this request.

    As for Eric Holder’s contempt of Congress charges, the reason he was not prosecuted was because of his insulation by Obama’s use of executive privilege.

  • Jan Link

    In contrast to how Dems operate and cooperate, Trump turned over all documents and interviews with staff requested by the Mueller investigation, in a timely manner. Even Mueller reluctantly came forward to say this. The only task refused was a personal sit-down with Mueller, as his lawyers warned this could result in an “perjury trap,” offering instead answering his questions in writing.

  • Zachriel Link

    Jan: the FD-1023 document requested was unclassified and given over to the FBI by a whistleblower to be investigated.

    Yes, and it is a predecisional and deliberative document that may not yet been vetted.

    Jan: As for Eric Holder’s contempt of Congress charges, the reason he was not prosecuted was because of his insulation by Obama’s use of executive privilege.

    The court found there was no reason to hold Holder in contempt as he had complied with the court. The delay in releasing the non-deliberative documents was due to the court’s own tardiness. When ordered so by the court, Holder turned over the non-deliberative documents.

    Jan: The only task refused was a personal sit-down with Mueller, as his lawyers warned this could result in an “perjury trap,” offering instead answering his questions in writing.

    Mueller tried in vain for months to get Trump to testify, calling the testimony “vital to the investigation.” The problem with written responses is that a person can evade answering, which can often be uncovered by follow up questions. By the way, in law, a perjury trap is called perjury.

  • Jan Link

    Mueller tried in vain for months to get Trump to testify, calling the testimony “vital to the investigation.”

    Trump testifying was only vital to Mueller’s investigation because it was an investigation having no predicate to do an investigation in the first place! The whole thing was a ruse built on falsehoods, that even after talking to everyone they could get their hands on, Mueller could find nothing or nobody to indicate a crime or illegality had been committed. The only maneuver left was to question Trump – who loved to talk – and hang him on some small misspeak, like they giddily did to Flynn when he openly talked to the FBI without a lawyer present. Even then, those FBI agents who interviewed him were not the ones who said he lied – it was the higher ups in the FBI who distorted his answers into “lies,” causing his reputation to be sullied, and on track to be persecuted for years, losing his house to pay legal fees. The Dems know no bounds to their ruthlessness in taking someone down!

  • steve Link

    The Republicans get special rules. Clinton had to testify, Trump did not. Also, dont forget what Mueller really found. Trump tired to obstruct the investigation but his aides refused to carry out his orders. Finally, Mueller just decided it wasn’t proper to bring charges ro recommend another investigation but makes it clear if the investigation had to been narrowly focused as he had kept it, it was likely they would have found something.

    ““If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment,” -Mueller

    https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/18/redacted-mueller-report-released-1280960

    I would be shocked if you actually read the Mueller report.

    Steve

  • Zachriel Link

    Jan: Mueller could find nothing or nobody to indicate a crime or illegality had been committed.

    Well, that’s false. Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was convicted for corruption related to Kremlin-linked oligarchs. Rick Gates, a Trump campaign official, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States. Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian agents. Trump operative, Roger Stone, was convicted of obstructing the congressional investigation into Russian interference in the election. George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to lying about his contacts with foreign nationals. And, Mueller garnered indictments against a dozen Russian agents for election interference, who, for some reason, decided not to confront the charges against in a U.S. court.

    ETA: In case you don’t get the connection, it’s Russia, Russia, Russia.

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