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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Podcast Song Filing  II Video Podcast
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FEDERAL COURT, August 31 -- Months after the DC Circuit's decisions in US v. Munchel and more recently Tanios, on August 31 DDC Judge Carl J. Nichols had before him Capitol breach defendant Bradley Rukstales, to change his plead to guilty to a lesser charged. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here (and podcast here)

Another Jan 6 guilty plea: now in OK - in  US v. Bradley Rukstales, now a plea proceeding before DDC Judge NICHOLS, citing plea deal of the defendant, who worked for (and was fired by) a tech firm outside Chicago.

Judge Nichols: Do you understand the rights you would be giving up if you plea guilty today? Rukstales: I do, your Honor. AUSA: He traveled to DC, he made his way to the Capitol. After 2:30 pm, rioters confronted police officers & threw unknown substances at them.

AUSA: Mr. Rukstales threw a chair in the direction of the police but they were dozens of feet away and they were not in danger. The rioters refused to leave and Mr. Rukstales was arrested.

 [Jump cut to Chicagoland: “This decision was made because Rukstales’ actions were inconsistent with the core values of Cogensia" ... said Joel Schiltz, who was promoted from senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer to acting CEO after Rukstales was fired"

Judge Nichols: Do you agree with what's written here, Mr Rukstales? Rukstales: I do not. [AUSA says police were not in danger from his chair throwing]

Judge: Plea agreement is 9 pages.  Defense: Maximum sentence is six months. $500 restitution, he'll pay promptly

 [From Cognensia's web site: "Cognesia has the answer. We transform anonymous digital data into highly valuable customer insight which enables you to create the right message, to the right person, at the right time."]

Deputy / clerk: How do you plead?

Rukstales: Guilty.

Judge Nichols: You will be interviewed for the pre-sentencing report. The sentencing will be on Nov 12 at 3 pm, by video. Adjourned

On Kenneth Harrelson on August 5, Inner City Press filed a letter and motion with Judge Mehta, on its DocumentCloud here.

On August 16, this: "Judge Mehta is in receipt of your email requesting access to the videos filed in United States v. Harrelson, No. 21-cr-28-10.  Under Standing Order No. 21-28, in order for the court to grant Inner City Press access to the videos filed in Mr. Harrelson’s case, you will need to file an application for access pursuant to D.D.C. Local Criminal Rule 57.6."

That rule provides: "Any news organization or other interested person, other than a party or a subpoenaed witness, who seeks relief relating to any aspect of proceedings in a criminal case... shall file an application for such relief with the Court. The application shall include a statement of the applicant's interest in the matter as to which relief is sought, a statement of facts, and a specific prayer for relief."

So, citing the Rule, Inner City Press filed another letter, one page, docketed here

Podcast here.  And Podcast II of August 19 here.

Now on August 19, it's been granted (shouldn't have been necessary): "MINUTE ORDER as to KENNETH HARRELSON (10) granting Inner City Press's 343 Application for Access to Video Exhibits. The United States shall make available to Inner City Press the video exhibits entered into evidence during the detention hearing of KENNETH HARRELSON (10), consistent with the procedures set forth in Standing Order 21-28. Inner City Press is granted permission to record, copy, download, retransmit, and otherwise further publish these video exhibits. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 8/19/2021."

So now, immediately, put on Inner City Press' YouTube, video here

Similarly, Inner City Press asked DOJ and then Judge Timothy Kelly for access to the videos that DOJ had shown to the court in the case: judicial documents that, under case law, must be made available to the public. But it was denied access, on the theory that Judge Kelly's order earlier in the month limited access to these judicial documents to a particular sub-set of the public.

 Inner City Press on July 27 wrote to Judge Kelly, including in the form of a motion, now on DocumentCloud, here. By noon the next day, July 28, nothing - no responses, no response. We'll have more on this. For now, podcast here; music video here.

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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