A detention hearing is about to start in federal court in Arkansas in the case of Richard Barnett, the man photographed sitting in Nancy Pelosi's office (see: https://t.co/GAAENhkxf0). He's been in custody since his arrest

Prosecutors alleged Barnett was carrying a stun gun. He's charged with entering a restricted area w/ a weapon, violent entry/disorderly conduct, and theft. There isn't anything on the docket indicating what the govt/Barnett will be seeking as far as detention v. release
We're still waiting for the Richard Barnett detention hearing to start in Arkansas. Meanwhile, follow @o_ema for updates on initial appearances in DC federal court today for a few of the Capitol insurrection arrestees --> https://t.co/cIDwzghXPp
Richard Barnett's detention hearing is underway in Arkansas — Judge Erin Wiedemann will decide if Barnett should stay behind bars. The first witness is FBI special agent Jonathan Willett, who was involved in the Capitol riot investigation
FBI agent walks the judge through surveillance videos that the agent says show Barnett walking in and out of Nancy Pelosi's office, with a "walking stick Taser" on his hip, as well as the widely disseminated photos of Barnett sitting in Pelosi's chair with his feet up
FBI agent now presenting evidence of Barnett buying the "walking stick Taser" on 12/31 (receipt + surveillance footage from the shop + opened packaging found during a search). Agent said Barnett also purchased pepper spray and two-way radios during that shop.
FBI agent says Barnett confirmed he owned firearms, and the government shows a photo of Barnett kneeling holding a gun, alongside two children (one of whom is holding a very large gun that the agent says appears to be an assault rifle)
Govt shows video of Barnett outside the Capitol holding up the letter he took from Pelosi's office and saying he left a message that read, "Bigo was here, you bitch." Also showed footage of Barnett from a Nov. "Stop the Steal" rally saying "whatever it takes, whatever it takes"
Barnett's attorney Anthony Siano is cross-examining the FBI special agent. He asks about the agent's background and the timeline of the investigation into Barnett; agent says it started Jan. 6th (the day of the riot) when they got word someone from Arkansas may have been involved
Siano notes the agent kept referring to Barnett taking a "letter" from Pelosi's office, and asks if the agent knew it was an empty envelope. The agent says he didn't know what was inside because it was a sealed envelope
Siano has the agent confirm Barnett reached out to law enforcement the night after the riot (not totally clear who he contacted) about self-surrendering. FBI agent says he assumed Barnett assumed the FBI was looking for him, b/c the FBI hadn't notified they were looking to arrest
On redirect, re: the defense's questions about Barnett offering to self-surrender to law enforcement the night of the riot on Jan. 6, the prosecutor asks the FBI agent if Barnett turned himself in as soon as he got back to Arkansas from DC. The FBI agent says no.
FBI agent had noted that Barnett said in his interview after surrendering that he had guns but had recently moved them. Judge asks the FBI agent if Barnett told them where the guns were, and the agent says no he did not
We're now hearing from defense witnesses who know Barnett and are testifying that he's trustworthy and not a threatening person

More from Zoe Tillman

New, with more to come: DOJ under Biden is keeping up the previous admin's effort to take over Trump's defense against a defamation lawsuit filed by writer E. Jean Carroll — an effort Biden criticized during the campaign.

First brief under new admin: https://t.co/JihPuNXxHj


Story: DOJ is keeping up an effort to try to take over Donald Trump's defense against a defamation case filed by writer E. Jean Carroll — an effort Biden criticized as a candidate last fall.

Key phrase in tonight's brief? "institutional interests"
https://t.co/LTuq3vv58F


This is the latest case that tests DOJ's traditional role of defending the power and prerogatives of the executive branch — any executive branch, regardless of president. What's unusual is that Biden had weighed in on this case specifically.

DOJ says Trump's comments about Carroll — who accused him of raping her more than 20 years ago — were "crude and disrespectful." Notably, that language does not appear in DOJ's prev. brief filed 1/15. But DOJ says the case isn't about what's "appropriate"

A federal district judge in Manhattan had rebuffed DOJ's effort last fall to substitute the US govt for Trump as the defendant. If the government ultimately wins, it would likely spell the end of Carroll's suit, since the US is immune against libel suits

More from Legal

Last night TPD arrested and charged two known organizers, @DailyTacoma and our own @ohdamn_jam.

So many people acted quickly, and we were able to make sure they both made bail.


You can read @ohdamn_jam's account of what happened here


If you remember, back in August we were made aware that Pierce County diverted COVID funds to monitor us. We know for sure they monitored and reported on this account and anyone associated with it, such as @DailyTacoma

Side note: They were not read their rights until munch later.
By corrupting global institutions, promoting hysterical data, publishing fraudulent science, and deploying propaganda on an unprecedented scale, Beijing transformed the snake oil of lockdowns into “science,” the greatest crime of the 21st century to

2/ The purpose of this letter is to request an expedited federal investigation into the scientific debate on major policy decisions during the COVID-19 crisis.

Downloadable PDF:
https://t.co/gOX6sTSFbT

Archived Medium article:

3/ In early 2020, the public turned to the advice of scientific authorities when confronted with an apparent viral outbreak. Soon after, most nations followed the advice of prominent scientists and implemented restrictions commonly referred to as “lockdowns.”


4/ While the policies varied by jurisdiction, in general they involved restrictions on gatherings and movements and the closure of schools, businesses, and public places, inspired by those imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hubei Province.


5/ SECTION 1 - LOCKDOWNS ORIGINATED ON THE ORDER OF XI JINPING, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, AND WERE PROPAGATED INTO GLOBAL POLICY BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION WITH LITTLE ANALYSIS OR LOGIC
As usual, @C_Stroop is right that we need to get ready to roll up our sleeves. This doesn't end on inauguration day. Christian Nationalism needs to be in the spotlight it must be exposed to be fought. Small town Christo-fascism is on the rise, and my hometown is an example. 1/


My hometown is Alamogordo, New Mexico. It's a military town. Holloman Air Force base is nearby, and so is the Army's White Sands Missile Range. It's also a hotbed of White Evangelical Christian Nationalism. 2/

Currently, the most notorious Christian Nationalist from Alamogordo that I can think of is Couy Griffin (no relation to me). He's a former pastor, turned County Commissioner, and founder of the group "Cowboys for Trump." I've talked about him before.


Couy Griffin and his Cowboys for Trump attended the the Coup Klux Klan in D.C. I'm not surprised. They went prepared for extremism. Here's a quick video of them outside the kitschy "Running Indian" trading post just outside Alamogordo. 4/


Notice what they say. "Give me liberty or give me death" and "We've god God on our side, and we've got the Truth on our side." Probably every Ex-evangelical I know has heard those words in church. 5/

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