Prosecuting the Capitol Rioters

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Many people have called for the vigorous prosecutions of the rioters who stormed the Capitol last week. What should they be charged with? Sadie Gurman and Aruan Viswanatha have this report for the WSJ.

So far, it appears that U.S. Attorney is sticking to fairly “ordinary” charges, including “gun crimes, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, assaulting an officer and other charges.” No mention of sedition charges. Yet.

1 Response

  1. Bill Otis says:
    Jan 11, 2021 10:18 pm at 10:18 pm

    Existing DOJ policy provides that, absent unusual circumstances warranting leniency, the AUSA should charge the most serious readily provable offense. The defense bar has been complaining about this for years, but I don’t hear any complaining now.