Many Americans have been paying close attention to the proceedings of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Among the interested observers are federal prosecutors at the United States Department of Justice, who are increasingly frustrated with the Committee’s refusal to provide DOJ with transcripts of the Committee’s witness interviews. Politico reports here that DOJ thinks the transcripts may be useful in its effort to prosecute those who engaged in criminal activity during the attack. DOJ also views the Committee’s selective release of transcripts during televised hearings as fueling defense arguments that the Committee is making it impossible for defendant to get a fair trial. January 6 sentencing. Speaking of January 6, the Associated Press has this article examining the sentences that have been handed down against Capitol rioters so far. I was not aware of the scope of the prosecution effort: over 800 people have been charged with crimes connected with January 6; over 300 have pled guilty; and almost 200 have been sentenced by a total of 20 different judges. Overall, “judges who have sentenced riot defendants have given lighter sentences than prosecutors were seeking in nearly three-fourths of the cases.” One judge stands out as imposing the most severe sentences . . . and that judge is a former federal public defender. Senators reach a deal on gun safety. Early this week, several Senators announced a tentative agreement on gun safety legislation. The group included 10 Republicans, including both Senators [...]
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