The Capitol riot advocate reportedly has Covid, which stops cases, DOJ says

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Prosecutors said they believe the lawyer, John Pierce, could be in the hospital and that his absence has effectively stopped several cases.

Pierce, of his Los Angeles-based law firm Pierce Bainbridge, had taken on the defense of some of the Capitol’s alleged riot police, including some accused of conspiring with jurists or extremist groups Proud Boys, son of a right-wing . -wing media founder, a church leader who led a group to the Jan. 6 rallies and a man accused of breaking a window, assaulting police and carrying a tomahawk to the Capitol.

Pierce’s health creates a problem in the cases because, according to the Justice Department, defendants do not have another attorney to properly represent them. The situation also highlights one of the most prominent right-wing lawyers who will appear after January 6 and as the coronavirus pandemic sinks.

Pierce’s vaccination status is unknown and neither he nor his law firm have independently confirmed whether he is ill. He has tweeted earlier this year that anyone who trusts the government “to shoot a vague and unknown” vaccine “in the arm” takes “a very big risk.”

CNN did not receive a response to requests for comments sent to Pierce and other people working in his small law firm.

At a court hearing last week by an alleged Capitol riot police officer, Pierce partner Ryan Marshall said he could not attend because of a dispute, according to the Justice Department.

Later that day, at a meeting about one of Pierce’s riot police at the Capitol, Marshall told prosecutors that Pierce was on his way to the hospital after an accident, the Justice Department said in a file.

The next day, Marshall told another judge that Pierce was hospitalized with coronavirus, with a ventilator and not responding, according to the Justice Department.

“Unfortunately, it appears Mr Pierce may be hospitalized and unable to communicate, and it is unclear when he will recover,” prosecutors wrote in court on Monday.

The Justice Department also noted that other people close to Pierce later denied Marshall and a NPR The reporter said he was always on a fan, according to documentation.

Prosecutors oppose Marshall acting as Pierce’s replacement.

“Although Mr. Marshall has appeared several times in Mr. Pierce’s place, he is not a licensed attorney and therefore cannot appear in this court, nor represent Mr. Pierce’s clients, nor provide them with legal advice or services. “, presented the statements of the Department of Justice. added. “From the government’s perspective, given Mr. Pierce’s reported illness and the fact that Mr. Marshall is not a licensed attorney, this case is effectively paralyzed.”

Marshall also faces his own criminal charges related to his time as a court clerk, further complicating his ability to work as a lawyer, according to court statements.

The January 6 committee will ask telecommunications companies to keep the telephone records of members of Congress who participated in the rally
Marshall is accused in Pennsylvania of illegally recording a court hearing and a conspiracy against theft, after he allegedly convinced a judge to sign a fake document to help a co-worker allegedly steal a dying relative, according to Pennsylvania court records and local news reports. . He is awaiting trial.

Marshall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Even before the Jan. 6 investigation, Pierce was closely associated with supporters of former President Donald Trump’s far right.

He currently represents Trump’s former adviser, Carter Page, in a civil lawsuit related to foreign surveillance, and for a time represented Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of killing two people on the outskirts of protests over Jacob Blake’s police shootings. Pierce tried to throw Rittenhouse as the protector of the community.
Pierce was also part of the team representing the defendant in Mueller’s investigation George Papadopoulos after Papadopoulos’ sentence. Trump finally pardoned Papadopoulos.

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