The defendants in the riots in the United States on January 6, 2021, when protesters stormed government buildings, are filing massive requests for postponement of their cases, citing Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election. UNN writes about this with reference to CBS News.
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Waves of defendants in the U.S. Capitol riots are citing the election of Donald Trump as a reason to delay their criminal prosecutions. They recall his public promise to pardon some people convicted of crimes on January 6, 2021.
CBS News has reviewed court documents in which defense attorneys ask federal judges to postpone some of the cases involving the Capitol storming until after Trump takes office.
The lawyer for one of the defendants noted that during his first term, Trump pardoned, commuted or overturned the sentences of 237 people, although many of them were controversial. Some of the defendants cite Trump's campaign statements in their new court filings.
The number of continuance requests is expected to increase significantly. Attorney Joseph McBride, who defended several criminal defendants on January 6, told CBS News that requests for continuances until Trump takes office will be made by all defendants.
It would be foolish not to do so. The issue of pardons is looming. And I don't think any of these prosecutions will continue after (Trump takes office)
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Due to these motions, which the courts will be obliged to consider, the Ministry of Justice may not be able to complete the trials before the change of power. It is noted that hundreds of cases are still pending in the courts.
The Department of Justice has opened more than 1,500 criminal cases in connection with the prosecution of the Capitol siege participants. According to federal data, approximately 950 defendants have pleaded guilty, and another 200 have been found guilty at trial. In August, the first defendant was convicted: Michael Sparks, who stormed the Capitol on January 6, was sentenced to 53 months in prison. He was found guilty on six charges. A former Trump adviser was also convicted.
Arrests continue, including new cases opened in the last few weeks.
Recall
The storming of the US Congress building took place on the evening of January 6, 2021, during a Senate meeting to approve the results of the US presidential election - the victory of Joseph Biden. During the storming, protesters clashed with police in the building.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a casethat could affect hundreds of proceedings related to the 2021 attack on the seat of Congress, including federal charges against Trump. At the same time, the Supreme Court ruledthat Trump may have immunity for actions during his presidency related to the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol.