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More Capitol Riot Defendants are Forgoing Lawyers

We've always known that most non-millionaire Donald Trump supporters are marginalized and under-informed. (Just a nicer term for under-educated and/or stupid). So perhaps it's no surprise that many of those charged in the Capitol riots are now seeking to represent themselves, despite repeated warnings from the Judge that it's a bad idea, and despite being offered the services of court-appointed counsel.

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth told one such defendant he hadn't seen a successful case of self-representation since he took the bench in 1987. New York Civil Rights Lawyer Ron Kuby says he hasn't seen a successful case of self-representation in his 40 years as a lawyer.

I say this all the time on TalkLeft, but I'll do it one more time: You have the right to remain silent. Use it or lose it. Our jails are filled with people who thought if they could only tell their side of the story, the police (or judge or jury) would see it their way. It rarely happens.

Many of these under-informed defendants think that if they represent themselves, they will be able to put the corrupt "system" on trial. It won't happen. The system is not on trial, you are. Judges, not defendants, decide what is admissible at a trial. Any hint of something that seeks jury nullification won't be permitted in federal court.
(More...)

Normally, I would say if you want to change the system, start with lobbying Congress to change the laws. But that takes effort, thought and discipline starting with learning things like who your elected officials are.

I doubt many of the Trump supporters charged in the Capitol riots are willing to put in that kind of work. They would rather shout nonsense and attack Trump's opponents than do something productive to bring about whatever change they're seeking. Have they ever stopped to ask themselves what Donald Trump has done for them as individuals? Did he send them money for a rent check? Give them a job? Pay for their mother's hospital bill? Of course not. I hope that as part of their sentences, they are ordered to watch the Wizard of Oz so they can stop believing in false idols.

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  • Display: Sort:
    They are all constitutional scholars (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at 11:05:06 PM EST
    Just ask them. They are all about the "constitution." Can't tell you what it actually says (except for part of the 2nd amendment), but they for it. Just ask. They will tell you how much they love the constitution. So they don't need lawyers. They got this. Because, you know, they love the constitution.

    what Donald Trump has done for them as individuals (none / 0) (#2)
    by jmacWA on Mon Oct 18, 2021 at 04:31:36 AM EST
    IMO he has programmed them into being his followers, NOTHING more.  

    It truly baffles me that the bulk of those who vote for the GOP get nothing for it.  Have they been bamboozled into thinking that ending abortions, keeping out immigrants, etc. is a benefit?  Just more proof that the GOP 40+ year plan to dumb down America has worked to a greater extent than I ever thought possible.  74,000,000 for sure did not vote for someone who would improve their lot, and I doubt that the other 222,958 will improve much either.

    Jeralyn, your warning should be ... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 18, 2021 at 02:46:33 PM EST
    ... a public service announcement. But hey, you really can't fix stupid. Some people are just determined to learn things the hard way.

    34 years ago, as his administration was then negotiating the specifics of the historic START treaty with the Soviet Union and he was getting a lot of grief from the far right, the late President Ronald Reagan warned his fellow Republicans to keep their party's right-wing crackpots at arm's length, saying that they "would sooner go off a cliff with flags flying, than compromise their beliefs" in order to forge an agreement for the greater good.

    "Shanna, they bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash."
    - Jack Kirkpatrick (cameo), "Airplane!" (1980)

    Those right-wing crackpots, who now appear to be in firm control of the GOP, have proved The Gipper prescient. In their eyes, this is their moment to shine. After all, Der Trumpenführer told them so.

    They knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash.
    ;-D

    My favorite (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 18, 2021 at 02:51:50 PM EST
    is the rioter who, in the process of defending himself, admitted to two more felonies in front of a judge.

    This really happened.  Maybe you can't fix stupid but you can use it.

    Parent

    a vexatious, illegal fishing expedition (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 18, 2021 at 03:39:01 PM EST
    Ha .. I had to look that up (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by desertswine on Mon Oct 18, 2021 at 04:55:55 PM EST
    ...and it was certainly annoying.

    Parent
    Trump's lawyers want everyone to know that ... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Oct 19, 2021 at 05:30:25 AM EST
    ... the primary reason their client wishes to shield his presidential records from public scrutiny is his personal concern for the well being of the very same republic he tried to overthrow last January by insurrection and coup d'etat.

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#8)
    by Zorba on Tue Oct 19, 2021 at 12:42:27 PM EST
    And if anyone believes that, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell them.
    I realize that lawyers sometimes have to say stuff like this- they're serving the interests of their clients, after all.


    Parent