These cases are being watched closely as more rioters learn their punishment for participating in a grave attack on American democracy, and the Justice Department has said it'll seek harsher sentences for unrepentant defendants. Reeder is one of the rioters who pleaded guilty but remains defiant about key aspects of the January 6 insurrection. if in fact your client committed or commits such a crime of violence prior to or after the execution of this Agreement." It says, "the United States expressly reserves its right to prosecute your client for any crime of violence. The plea deal prosecutors signed with Reeder gives the Justice Department a path to charge him with the alleged assault, if it chooses to. "The quick response to last minute discovery of images showing a suspected assault clearly shows the dedication by all involved."Ī Justice Department spokesman declined to comment about the case or the new video. "The team are extremely grateful for all the challenging work the FBI and the DOJ are putting into each individual case and their willingness to accept the assistance from our community of researchers," the group told CNN in a statement. Reeder is seeking a sentence of probation. Reeder's attorney in court said that "on first blush, the clip is problematic" but said there might be other footage that could help his defense arguments. US District Judge Thomas Hogan said he was "concerned" about the new videos because Reeder was previously portrayed as "more as an observer than a participant" in the violence. He is now scheduled to be sentenced on October 8. Prosecutors planned to go forward with sentencing and request the maximum six-month jail term, but after reviewing more of the videos, they asked to delay the hearing. Prosecutors said during the truncated hearing that they notified the judge, as well as Reeder's defense attorneys, about the new footage on Wednesday morning. The Justice Department has cited their work in many cases.
Sedition Hunters is one of several online collectives, many comprised of anti-Donald Trump activists, who have combed through footage from the Capitol attack to identify rioters. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.But on Wednesday morning, the online group known as the Sedition Hunters tweeted newly discovered clips and photos, apparently showing Reeder fighting with police on January 6. The throng sent lawmakers running for their lives and caused $1 million damage.Ĭopyright 2021 The Associated Press. More than 630 people have been charged in the insurrection, where a pro-Trump mob beat and bloodied police in an effort to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's victory. “I’ve always been regretful and ashamed of being there, not because I’m in trouble but because I saw what happened and it was disgusting.” “Immediately after the interaction with the police officer I just wanted to get out of there. Reeder said he touched or grabbed the officer’s shoulder, and forgot to mention it in previous FBI interviews where he voluntarily shared video with agents. Prosecutors said the recording captured an assault on an officer, though they opted not to file new charges. Then armchair detectives who call themselves Sedition Hunters unearthed the video online. Reeder had been expected to get probation last month, after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and saying he had not been involved in any violence that day. “This was an attack on the operations of Congress and the Capitol of the United States, a really sacrosanct building,” he said. He said he believed Reeder is sorry now and sentenced him to half of the six months prosecutors had wanted, but the judge said some of Reeder's previous statements had been “disingenuous and self-serving.” Hogan said he hopes the sentence sends a signal that people convicted in the riot will face jail time. but not changing their attitude,” Hogan said. They seem, to me, to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly as possible, stating whatever they have to say. “It’s become evident to me that many of the defendants pleading guilty do not truly accept responsibility. District Judge Thomas Hogan spoke as he sentenced Robert Reeder, a Maryland man who had originally described himself as an “accidental tourist” before video emerged of him grabbing a police officer. Capitol insurrection case will send a message to other defendants who don’t seem to be “truly accepting responsibility.” A federal judge said Friday he hopes a three-month sentence behind bars in a U.S.
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