Some defendants charged in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. by a mob of supporters of now President-elect Donald Trump called Wednesday for, unsuccessfully, to delay their court proceedings in the expectation that he will keep his promise to pardon them.
As reported by The Washington Postthe U.S. judiciary on Wednesday refused to delay at least three cases related to the attack, and one of the lawyers who went to court said he is preparing to file more motions to stay other cases with trials or sentences already scheduled.
Campaigning, Trump said he considered presidential pardon for all those convicted of the assault, a violent attempt to stop the process of certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory, in which five people were killed and a hundred agents were assaulted.
So far, there have been more than 1,500 people have been indicted of which some 1,000 have been sentenced, and 650 have been sentenced to prison terms, such as the leader of the ultra-right-wing organization Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, sentenced to 22 years for sedition, among other crimes.
The Post cites as one of the first to go to court was Christopher Carnell, 21.whose lawyers cited Trump’s “multiple promises of clemency,” “particularly to non-violent participants” of the Capitol assault, and whose request was quickly rejected by the judge.
He also cites Jaimee Avery, convicted after pleading guilty to trespassing. and awaiting sentencing this Friday, whose court-appointed attorney asked for a continuance because of the “real possibility that the next Attorney General” will drop the charges, but also did not get the desired response from a judge.
Meanwhile, attorney William Shipley, who has represented about 20 defendants, told the newspaper that a judge had today rejected his attempt to adjourn a case that was going to trial next week.
Trump, who has not detailed the content or scope of those possible clemency measures for his supporters who participated in the insurrection, will be inaugurated as the new president of the United States on January 20.