Topline
Brandon Fellows, while representing himself in a trial over his actions during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, doubled down on previous statements he made arguing that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was a good thing while also referencing public figures like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk as he delivered his opening statement Wednesday, according to NBC News.
Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP … [+]
Key Facts
Fellows said he “truly do[es] like the fact that those senators and congressmen were in fear for their lives” and described January 6 as “a beautiful day,” reiterating sentiments he made on social media in the wake of the Capitol riot.
He told jurors that, over the course of the trial, he would say things that they would find abhorrent.
He also argued his situation is similar to that of Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault in 2018 (Fellows argues he was falsely accused) ahead of his confirmation to the Supreme Court, adding that jurors should not “fall for the tricks of prosecutors.”
He described Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla Motors and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, as a “high-functioning person” he looked up to.
Fellows also explained that he has Asperger’s Syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Key Background
Fellows, of New York, allegedly entered the Capitol during the riot on January 6, 2021 and forced his way into Sen. Jeff Merkley’s (D-Ore.) office, where he was photographed and spotted smoking marijuana. He was arrested just 10 days after the Capitol riot, on misdemeanor charges. Later on, he was indicted on felony charges of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. He was initially released from jail ahead of his trial, but was brought back into custody after he reportedly called his probation officer’s mother and harassed a former girlfriend, a violation of his state protection order. He has been in jail since mid-2021. Jury selection in his trial began Tuesday, and opening statements began Wednesday.
Tangent
Fellows had been repeatedly urged by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who is presiding over his case, and Washington public defender Cara Halverson, his former defense attorney, not to appear in court “pro se,” a legal term that means a defendant represents himself, according to Courthouse News Service. In a pre-trial hearing, he mistakenly prepared for the wrong type of hearing, expecting an evidentiary hearing when it was a bond hearing.
Further Reading
Jan. 6 defendant representing himself at trial compares himself to Brett Kavanaugh (NBC News)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/08/23/jan-6-defendant-reportedly-says-he-liked-that-congressmen-feared-for-their-lives-compared-himself-to-brett-kavanaugh-and-called-jan-6-a-beautiful-day-in-court/