Verdict looms in first round of trials for 194 charged in anti-Trump inauguration day protests
By
E.P. Milligan
19 December 2017
The first of a round of trials surrounding the defendants involved in the January 20 protests against the inauguration of President Donald Trump came to a close on Friday. The jury has been in deliberation over the weekend, with a verdict due to arrive at some point this week. The mainstream press has held the case under an effective media blackout, with the exception of a few cursory articles that largely gloss over details.
The six defendants are Jennifer Armento, 38, of Philadelphia; Michelle Macho, 26, of Asheville, North Carolina; Oliver Harris, 28, of Philadelphia; Brittne Lawson, 27, of Aspinwall, Pennsylvania; Christina Simmons, 20, of Cockeysville, Maryland; and Alexei Wood, 27, of San Antonio, Texas. They each face decades in prison for participating in the protests, during which five windows belonging to banks and corporate stores were reportedly smashed and a limousine was set on fire. Like the vast majority of the other 188 individuals due to face trial next year, none of the defendants were involved in any manner with the damages that occurred that day.
On Wednesday, D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz dismissed the charge of “inciting a riot,” a felony that carries a maximum 10-year sentence. She cited a lack of evidence by the prosecution to prove that the defendants had urged individuals to engage in violent or otherwise destructive behavior. Leibovitz has refused to acquit the defendants on seven other charges, however, including five counts of felony property destruction, misdemeanor rioting, and misdemeanor conspiracy to riot. These charges altogether could land the defendants in prison for up to 50 years.
The…