Seven more accused of rioting at the US Capitol plead guilty, including a gunman who threatened to shoot Pelosi

by

With this latest lawsuit, 10% of the more than 600 known federal defendants charged in connection with the deadly riot have pleaded guilty, according to the latest CNN account.
The most notable defendant who completed a guilty plea was Cleveland Meredith Jr., who drove from Georgia to Washington, DC, with two guns and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. He missed former President Donald Trump’s speech at a Jan. 6 rally, but a day later sent a text message to a relative who was thinking of attending an event with Pelosi and “putting a bullet on television live “.

He pleaded guilty to sending threatening communications and faces a maximum potential prison sentence of five years, although prosecutors told the judge they would only ask for up to two years. Meredith has been in prison since her arrest in January and will get full-time credit when convicted in December.

The pace of guilty pleas has risen in recent weeks as the Justice Department tries to resolve dozens of lower-level cases involving defendants in nonviolent riots, including an Ohio married couple.

Most of the 61 counts of guilt so far have been for low-level offenses. But several people have pleaded guilty to crimes that could lead to years in prison, such as conspiring with extremist groups, assaulting police or obstructing Congressional proceedings.
Sketch of Capitol Riot suspects Cleveland Meredith in court hearing in January 2021.

Past and future threats

At Meredith’s plea hearing, she told the judge that the vulgar, sexist messages she sent about shooting Pelosi were “political hyperboles,” before finally acknowledging, “I sent the text.”

He had planned to attend Trump’s rally on Jan. 6, but due to car problems came to DC after the uprising. He acknowledged that he was carrying 2,500 rounds of ammunition, an assault rifle and another weapon with the symbol of an American flag on his trailer. But, as part of his lawsuit, he was not required to plead guilty to the weapons charges that were initially filed.

On Friday, during a separate statement hearing, a federal judge recalled another defendant who was banned from returning to DC for a rally scheduled for Sept. 18 in support of Jan. 6 riot police.

“You don’t have permission to attend this demonstration, don’t you understand?” U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras told defendant Felipe Marquez, who, like most Capitol rioters, was previously ordered to stay out of DC while his criminal case is pending. moved by the judicial system.

Márquez pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct on grounds of the Capitol, which is a misdemeanor. He could face up to a year in prison, although most riot police have received lighter sentences.

Few expect the Sept. 18 protest to be close to the magnificent January 6 pro-Trump rally that preceded the insurgency, which drew at least 25,000 people. But police officials are preparing for possible clashes and riots, and U.S. Capitol police have asked their supervisory board to approve plans to temporarily relocate fencing around the complex.
Federal prosecutors say this photograph shows Stephanie Miller (left) and Brandon Miller (right) inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 (Source: Department of Justice)

Last minute passes

A married couple from rural Ohio also pleaded guilty Friday to illegally protesting at the Capitol, a misdemeanor similar to the violent rape that many of the nonviolent riot police have already pleaded guilty to.

After the attack, Stephanie Miller and Brandon Miller falsely claimed on Facebook that the day “was peaceful” and that “the media” distorted what happened, according to court statements.

Their hearing was almost derailed when the couple rejected some provisions of the agreement their lawyers had negotiated with the Justice Department. Brandon Miller claimed he had not been told he should conduct an interview with investigators about the riot. And Stephanie Miller said she was unaware that prosecutors could examine her phone and social media accounts.

After a brief discussion with their attorneys, the Millers continued with their pleadings. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan accepted her pleas and the sentence set for Dec. 1.

They are not the only insurgents in the Capitol who raised last-minute objections in their hearings. CNN previously reported that several defendants continued to push self-service stories about police allegedly inviting them to the Capitol, even as they tried to plead guilty.

More guilt is expected to occur in the coming weeks. So far only six riot police have been sentenced, but the sentencing hearing will be achieved for the rest of 2021.

.Source