Riley said what he did after the riot was “stupid and reckless” but said he “never thought I was breaking the law.”
They should double his sentence for stupidity.
Proud Boys’ defense wobbles in sedition trial after two take the stand (msn.com)
2 defendants testified in their own defence. it did not go well. on to closing arguments monday or tuesday.
The defense strategy is probably not the best.
“We never meant to do all that violent stuff, it just sort of happened in the moment.”
“But here are videos and messages where you said you were planning on violence.”
“That was just trolling and locker room talk, we didn’t mean it.”
“But then you did what you said you were going to do.”
I don’t see a jury convinced by the idea that this was spontaneous and unplanned, when weeks before they bragged about what they were going to do, and then did it.
I do think a lot of them were shocked that something actually happened. Deep down they know they’re all talk.
Or they’re like the Sov Twits and believe they’re in the right and they have the secret knowledge.
Delusions of competence.
I think a lot of them were shocked to find themselves first driven off and then arrested, instead of acclaimed as heros. I suspect many of them are only talking to each other, and assumed that nearly everybody agreed with them.
This. They live inside their alternative reality bubble.
And being in a crowd of similar folks just made it feel like a real revolution. They can’t see just how small a minority they are.
And instead of being a mensch and owning up to their actions they’re showing what cowards they are.
Reminds me of a case here some years ago where a man ran over his daughter and a friend of hers in an ‘honor killing’ – killing them both – then ran off to Mexico.
Ted Cruz caught on ‘tape’ pushing the fake electors scheme via a commission designed to delay the J6 certification:
Revolting. Even more so when you reflect on the fact that Cruz likely believes God is telling him to do all that he does–including subverting the Constitution.
The jury is deliberating in the proud boys trial.
Thanks for that AP item. From it:
An “unorganized drinking club”? What were they drinking, the Kool-Aid?
I think they’re saying that they’re frat boys who never even made it to uni.
I didn’t think “My clients were drunk and stupid” is a valid defense, outside of the movie Animal House.
So they’re hoping to be put on double secret probation…
It is for “specific intent” offences, where the person must have formed an intent to do the specifically prohibited thing. For example, it’s the difference (in Canadian law, at least), between murder (specific intent to kill) and manslaughter (general intent to apply bodily force).
Drunken rowdiness leading to assaults would be a general intent offence; “with intent to interrupt a government proceeding” might be a specific intent. But, you would need to have evidence that the client was pretty blotto to negate that intent and raise a reasonable doubt.
So not just “my client drinks a lot, and is stupid” then.
If that were the case, a lot of jails would be empty.