A supporter of potential felon Donald Trump, who remains convinced that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, testified in his own defense during his trial. Brandon Fellows, representing himself in this case, shared that he felt at ease sitting in a senator’s chair during the January 6th attack on the US Capitol.
A Stolen Election
Fellows, who previously referred to January 6th as a “beautiful day,” is facing federal charges. He’s been accused of obstructing an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, as well as misdemeanor charges related to the Capitol attack. He’s also alleged to have smoked cannabis in an office that belonged to Senator Jeff Merkley.
Comfort in a Senator’s Chair
While testifying, Fellows said that he didn’t actually realize he was in a senator’s chair. Regardless, he described the experience as “very comfy” before going on to reiterate his delusion that the 2020 election had been stolen and that he was part of an effort to rectify the situation.
The People’s House
Fellows asserted that, while he supported the idea of violence on January 6th, he did not engage in violent acts himself. He believed that some level of aggression on that day was preferable to potential future violence, referring to the Capitol as “the people’s house” to justify his actions.
A “Kangaroo Court”
During a break in proceedings, US District Judge Trevor McFadden expressed concern about Fellows’ conduct and suggested that he had forfeited his right to engage in a proper rebuttal. This came as a result of Fellows’ commentary during the government’s cross-examination and his avoidance of straightforward yes-or-no questions. Fellows, in response, referred to the court as a “kangaroo court.”
Criminal Contempt of Court
Following the conclusion of closing arguments, Judge McFadden held Fellows in criminal contempt of court and sentenced him to five months in prison, with the sentence to begin after the trial concludes. The jury is scheduled to resume deliberations soon.
The Wider Context
The trial is part of a much larger legal effort in the aftermath of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Over 1,000 individuals have been charged in connection with the events of that day, with more than 300 already sentenced to periods of incarceration.
A Lack of Intellect
News of Fellows’ words was shared across social media and, for the most part, people were highly critical. “Exactly the intellect I would expect from a cult member,” one person wrote. “This is someone who is not afraid of the consequences of their actions,” another said.
Hoping for a Pardon
Some people said Fellows is likely expecting Trump to become POTUS once more and pardon him. One person wrote: “Gotta admire the [honesty] and bravado of defending himself in a court of law! I assume he is not worried about any sentence that will be imposed by the judge as he is assuming a Trump victory and subsequent pardon. I loathe this man’s behavior and hope he gets a long sentence and is never pardoned.”
Destroying the Fabric of America
Referring to the way Fellows justified the attack by referring to the Capitol as “the people’s house,” one person said: “That is the thinking that is destroying the fabric of this country. These folks don’t even understand the gravity of the crimes they are committing against our country.”
Trump Needs to Be Held Accountable
Others used the news to highlight how important it is that Trump is published for his actions. “This guy is why Trump needs to [be] held accountable. He will do this again if he gets near the Oval Office. If Trump runs in 2024 and loses, it will happen all over again,” one person said.
From a Senator’s Chair to a Prison Toilet
Others responded with humor. “Prison toilets are comfy too,” one person wrote. “Now he gets to test a ‘comfy’ prison commode with no toilet seat,” another echoed. “It’ll be interesting to see how ‘comfy’ he finds prison. Something tells me it won’t be as nice as that chair,” a third added.
A Troubling Mental State
A fair few commenters expressed concern for Fellows’ mental state. “I think this guy is seriously not fit to stand trial. He should be in a hospital,” one individual said. “If you mean a mental [health] hospital, I concur,” another agreed. “As much as I wanna see this guy locked up, I do wonder if sending him to hospital might be more appropriate,” a third echoed.
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