| In DC Insurrection Case NYPD
Tom Webster Is Released, Videos Not Public
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
Podcast Song
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
FEDERAL COURT,
June 29 --
On June 29
months
after the DC
Circuit's
decision in US
v. Munchel, DDC Judge
Amit P. Mehta
held a bond /
detention hearing on
defendant
Thomas
Webster, a
former NYPD
officer, and
released him.
The availability
of the cited
videos to the
public remains
unclear - a
letter is
pending before
Judge
Mehta.
Inner City
Press live
tweeted it, here:
Officer
N.R. (read by
AUSA) "Mr
Webster
attempted to
tear away my
gas mask...
While on the
ground I
looked up to
observe the
rage in Mr.
Webster's
face. He
pinned me to
the ground. I
retreated
behind our
failed police
line. He is a
retired NYPD
officer...
Officer
N.R. - Mr
Webster was
motivated by
political
ignorance. I
am
disappointed
that a veteran
would do this.
I feared for
my life. He is
a risk to the
public. My
department
issued body
camera
footage.
[Where is it?
See this
filing]
AUSA: I'll
explain why we
are entitled
to a detention
hearing...
Judge Mehta:
You don't need
to. I agree
with you.
Including on
dangerous
weapon, the
defendant's
footnote. A
flag pole can
be a dangerous
weapon.
AUSA:
The defendant
proffers a
pistol permit
from 2012. It
is not clear
he was
entitled to
bring it to
his hotel
room. Why
bring MREs? He
has a
commendable
history in the
military and
NYPD. He is
held to a
higher
standard.
Judge
Mehta: I'm
going to start
in an
unconventional
way. I've done
more detention
hearings than
any other
District Judge
in this
courthouse,
other than
Chief Judge
Howell. Make
no mistake,
this was a
riot. Mr
Webster's
conduct was
entirely
indefensible
Judge
Mehta: He
approaches a
line of police
officers,
accuses them
of being
Communists. He
pushes against
the barricade.
An officer
reached out
and touched
him in the
chest, not the
face. The
flagpole
breaks, he
rushes forward
and assaults
the officer.
Judge
Mehta: It's
right there on
video. Anyone
can take a
look at it.
[Really? No
answer from
Judge Mehta on
Public Access
to videos
(judicial
documents) in
USA v.
Schwartz,
21-cr-178
(APM)
Judge
Mehta: All
that said, I
am the
presiding
officer in
this case. Not
the jury. What
sort of future
risk does he
pose? He lost
control. The
Circuit has
made clear in
Munchel that I
must consider
the conditions
have changed.
Mr. Webster
has no
previous
violence
Judge
Mehta: All
things
considered,
release is the
norm. I think
he can be
release, under
house arrest.
Judge
Mehta: He must
turn in
firearms. Mr.
Webster, I am
still utterly
mystified by
your conduct.
You should
have known
better. Please
tell Officer
N.R., don't
view this
decision as
undermining
his valor.
These are the
laws, and the
precedents of
the DC
Circuit.
Webster's
lawyer: How do
I turn in his
passport?
Pre-Trial:
Send it to us
AUSA:
Discovery is
essentially
complete. We
request 60
days to
discuss a
non-trial
disposition.
Judge
Mehta: Aug 31
at 2 pm.
We will
have more on
this.
Inner
City Press
live tweeted
Riley June
Williams on
January 25, here.
From January
22, song here:
Thread here.
Inner City
Press' John Earle Sullivan
song on SoundCloud here.
***
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