In DC
Insurrection Case Grider Wins Pre Trial
Release To Waco and Pleads Not Guilty
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
FEDERAL COURT,
Feb 22– During
closing
arguments of
the
impeachment
trial in the
U.S. Senate,
insurrectionist Thomas
Edward Caldwell
was ordered
detained until
trial by District
Judge Amit P.
Mehta.
Inner City
Press live
tweeted it, here and
below.
(US v.
Caldwell
affidavit on
Patreon here).
Now
on February 22
Christopher
Grider, who
was present
with Ashli
Babbitt was
shot and
killed and
gave his
helmet to a man
who smashed
open the
window, was
ordered free
pending his
trail. Inner
City Press
live tweeted
it here:
Grider's
lawyer: My
client came to
DC to hear his
president one
last time. He
had no idea it
would turn
into this.
January 6 will
remain a
tragic day.
But we don't
fix one
tragedy by
creating
another one.
Christopher
Grider did not
come to DC
with a plan
Grider's
lawyer: DOJ
had a back and
forth with Mr.
Grider before
I even came on
the case. They
knew where he
was. If there
was a danger
-- Judge:
That's not the
test of
dangerousness.
There's a
presumption of
dangerousness
here.
Grider's
lawyer: He
backed up his
video from his
cell phone to
his computer.
He preserved
the
information;
he did not
obstruct
justice. But
he was
worried:
people in the
community had
threatened
him.
Judge:
So what is his
responsibility.
How was his
helmet used?
Grider's
lawyer:
There's no
indication
that he came
there with the
helmet. He
found it, then
carried it
with him for
his own
protection. He
may have
handed it off
- or taken -
but he was
engaged in
dialogue with
the police. He
didn't say,
Take this and
do harm
Grider's
lawyer: I
understand
this is
frustrating,
but nothing in
the video
shows he is a
danger. Judge:
That's not how
the statute
and
presumption
work. [Things
are not
looking good
for Grider.
Another case,
before DDC
Magistrate
Judge
Meriweather,
may start soon
Judge:
What
conditions
would you be
proposing for
Mr. Grider, if
I were to
release him?
Grider's
lawyer: Home
confinement
and daily
check ins with
the
authorities.
Judge: I'm not
sure they
would want to
hear from him
that
frequently.
On
Grider: AUSA:
He watched the
other
individual
break down the
windows with
the protection
and
weaponization
of the helmet.
Mr. Grider is
the first to
rush to the
door. He can't
wrap himself
in the mantle
of reaching
out to
government
when it was
self-serving
AUSA:
Mr. Grider
claims he was
there to
protect
monuments. But
he went on TV
and provided
footage. We
learned the
defendant
asked to get
rid of his
Trump things.
These are
identifying
items.
That his
strategy
wasn't
effective
doesn't change
anything.
Grider's
lawyer (last
rebuttal
before Judge
takes 5 minute
break then
rules) -- Even
the Waco TV
reporter he
spoke to is
willing to
come forward
and testify in
his favor.
Judge
Ketanji B.
Jackson is
back, to rule,
says: I have
reviewed the
video
footage.
Mr. Grider
seemed to
suggest that
the police
should step
aside. The
crowd swelled;
Mr. Grider did
not
disassociate
himself from
the mob.
Judge: Mr.
Grider gave
his helmet to
a particularly
aggressive
man. Then
Ashli Babbitt
tried to claim
through, and
was shot.
Later Mr.
Grider told
Waco TV Mr.
Trump had
asked him to
go to DC. He
said he
thought coming
to DC was the
least he could
do
Judge:
Mr. Grider has
been indicted
on 7 counts.
The court's
focus, de
novo, is
whether Mr.
Grider is a
danger to the
community. I
want you all
to understand
that this is a
close call,
perhaps the
closest I have
seen since I
have been on
the bench.
Judge:
I have looked
at the tapes
and they are
much more
inculpatory
than
exonerating. I
watched in
horror and
asked, How
close can a
person be to
lynch mob acts
by others and
claim to be
not a danger?
Judge:
He was right
there. Right
there, next to
those to those
engaged in
these kind of
activities. He
was not a mere
bystander.
Sure he wasn't
hitting the
glass. But he
was in the
midst. I find
that Mr.
Grider has
rebutted the
presumption; I
will grant his
motion.
Judge:
I will grant
Mr. Grider's
motion to
review the
Magistrate
Judge's order
detaining him.
That is,
Grider will be
freed pending
trial,
probably with
home
confinement et
al Judge: It
appears Mr.
Grider was
intent on
overthrowing
the duly
elected
government. If
there is a
more serious
crimes against
our democracy,
I don't know
of it.
Judge:
Mr. Grider,
you will face
serious
charges. But
the question
today is
detention
pending trial.
I have looked
at the
situation of
others. I urge
everyone to
watch the
videos, they
are on
YouTube. But
under these
factors, I am
releasing Mr.
Grider.
Judge:
I also notice
that your
particular
area of Texas
has suffered
in the last
week. You
could have
been there
helping people
if you had not
knowingly
facilitated
divisiveness.
If we are
going to get
through this,
we've got to
pull together
Judge
K. Jackson: So
the
conditions:
GPS, no guns,
stay away from
DC, weekly
contacts with
the
authorities.
And I could
remand you if
you violate
these
conditions.
Grider
proceeding is
still going.
He is
arraigned and
pleads not
guilty. Speedy
Trial Act time
is tolled
until April
6.
We'll
have more on
this.
Inner
City Press
live tweeted
Riley June
Williams on
January 25, here.
From January
22, song here:
Thread here.
Inner City
Press' John Earle Sullivan
song on SoundCloud here.
***
Your
support means a lot. As little as $5 a month
helps keep us going and grants you access to
exclusive bonus material on our Patreon
page. Click
here to become a patron.
Feedback:
Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA
Mail: Box 20047, Dag
Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017
Reporter's mobile (and weekends):
718-716-3540
Other, earlier Inner City Press are
listed here,
and some are available in the ProQuest
service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright 2006-2021 Inner City
Press, Inc. To request reprint or other
permission, e-contact Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com
|