U.S. Capitol rioter who said he followed Trump's orders found guilty
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Jan Wolfe
Publishing date:Apr 14, 2022 • 15 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
In this file photo taken on January 6, 2021 supporters of President Donald Trump protest outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
In this file photo taken on January 6, 2021 supporters of President Donald Trump protest outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. PHOTO BY ALEX EDELMAN /AFP via Getty Images
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WASHINGTON — A jury on Thursday convicted an Ohio man who claimed he was following former President Donald Trump’s orders when he looted items from U.S. Capitol during last year’s riot, handing another notable win to prosecutors.
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A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Dustin Thompson, 38, guilty on all charges he faced, including obstruction of an official proceeding and theft of government property.
Thompson had admitted to entering the Capitol and stealing a bottle of liquor and a coat rack during the riots.
But in a novel legal strategy, Thompson argued to the jury that he was acting at Trump’s behest and that the former president is ultimately responsible for the mob that stormed the Capitol.
“Besides being ordered by the president to go to the Capitol, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Thompson told the jury, according to CNN. “I was caught up in the moment.”
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who oversaw the trial, will sentence Thompson at a hearing in July. The judge ordered Thompson detained in jail until that hearing.
The U.S. Justice Department has now won all three Jan. 6 prosecutions that have gone to a jury trial. One defendant was acquitted in a non-jury trial.
About 800 people have been charged with crimes relating to the Jan. 6 attack.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Jan Wolfe
Publishing date:Apr 14, 2022 • 15 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
In this file photo taken on January 6, 2021 supporters of President Donald Trump protest outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
In this file photo taken on January 6, 2021 supporters of President Donald Trump protest outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. PHOTO BY ALEX EDELMAN /AFP via Getty Images
Article content
WASHINGTON — A jury on Thursday convicted an Ohio man who claimed he was following former President Donald Trump’s orders when he looted items from U.S. Capitol during last year’s riot, handing another notable win to prosecutors.
Advertisement 2
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Dustin Thompson, 38, guilty on all charges he faced, including obstruction of an official proceeding and theft of government property.
Thompson had admitted to entering the Capitol and stealing a bottle of liquor and a coat rack during the riots.
But in a novel legal strategy, Thompson argued to the jury that he was acting at Trump’s behest and that the former president is ultimately responsible for the mob that stormed the Capitol.
“Besides being ordered by the president to go to the Capitol, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Thompson told the jury, according to CNN. “I was caught up in the moment.”
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who oversaw the trial, will sentence Thompson at a hearing in July. The judge ordered Thompson detained in jail until that hearing.
The U.S. Justice Department has now won all three Jan. 6 prosecutions that have gone to a jury trial. One defendant was acquitted in a non-jury trial.
About 800 people have been charged with crimes relating to the Jan. 6 attack.
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U.S. Capitol rioter who said he followed Trump's orders found guilty
WASHINGTON — A jury on Thursday convicted an Ohio man who claimed he was following former President Donald Trump’s orders when he looted items from U.S.…