Lamberth, a Texas-born military veteran, is a man who is never afraid to hold those in power accountable. When Native Americans accused the Interior Department of mismanagement of trust funds, an enraged Lamberth belittled Bill Clinton’s Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, and then did the same for President George W. Bush’s Interior Secretary Gail Norton. started. (A federal appeals court ultimately ordered Lamberth removed from the case.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin wears cowboy boots at court events after he balks at Lamberth’s order to hand over stolen Jewish artifacts and says he doesn’t have to obey “cowboy judges” Lamberth, known for his work, explained this adjective. as “one of the highlights of my life.”
Thursday should be a different day. At considerable personal risk, Mr. Lamberth unleashed those who sought to cover up January 6th in an environment where judges and prosecutors were targets of abuse and violence.
“Courts are used to defendants refusing to admit they did anything wrong,” Lamberth said. “But in my 37 years as a judge, I can’t remember a time when such senseless criminal acts were so mainstreamed. I have been appalled to see that some celebrities are trying to rewrite history, claiming that rioters behaved in an “orderly” manner, like ordinary tourists, I was shocked to see defendants who were convicted on the 6th of the month being martyred as “political prisoners” or, incredibly, “hostages.” That’s completely ridiculous. However, the Court is concerned that such destructive and misguided rhetoric may pose further danger to our country. ”
Lamberth did not name names, but the target of his anger could not be more clear. Let’s start with former President Donald Trump, who has promised to pardon at least some of those charged in the insurrection. “Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages,” Trump said in Iowa earlier this month, saying the Capitol invaders acted “patriotically and peacefully.” .
Some members of the party, once champions of law and order, are distancing themselves from Trump’s distasteful comments. Others dutifully agree with this opinion, particularly Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), who has an open eye on the Republican vice presidential nomination. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene described the jailed defendants as “political prisoners.” Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson concluded in a Fox News segment featuring a selection of videos provided by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy: they were tourists. ”
Lamberth disagrees, and given the current situation, it’s worth quoting him at length.
“The court cannot tolerate the brazen attempts by Mr. Little and others to misinterpret or misrepresent what happened. Those who broke the law on January 6th The idea that people who have done nothing wrong or who have been formally convicted with all the protections of the U.S. Constitution, including the right to a jury trial in felony cases, are political prisoners or hostages. This is unacceptable.
“So let me be clear…this was not an unruly protest. It was. riot; in many ways coordinated Riot. …The “protesters” were likely simply sharing their opinions about the election—as were the thousands of others who did not approach the Capitol that day. But those who invaded and occupied the Capitol building and grounds halted the counting of electoral votes, as required by the 12th Amendment. The rioters disrupted a necessary step in the constitutional process, disrupted the legitimate transfer of power, and thereby endangered America’s constitutional order. Although the rioters did not achieve their ultimate goal, their actions still resulted in the deaths of multiple people, injuries to more than 140 law enforcement personnel, and lasting trauma across our nation. This was not patriotism. It was the antithesis of patriotism. ”
The very antithesis of patriotism. Like the police at the Capitol that day, the federal judges here were secret patriots in this sad chapter. More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the riot, more defendants than usual are requesting jury trials, and the law is unresolved and evolving, making it difficult for sitting judges and senior judges like Judge Lamberth to District judges are under pressure. They served and worked harder than expected to fulfill their sworn duty to administer justice.
Lamberth didn’t mention his workload, but you can see how frustrating it is to have to hear this kind of nonsense. “Mr. Little’s calling himself a political prisoner and accusing the court of violating his rights is not only unfair but offensive to the court,” Lamberth said. “The public should understand that such thinking is insane.”
The people should do that. Perhaps Judge Lamberth’s prompting will help.