It’s difficult to argue your client’s innocence in court when millions of people have seen photos of him blatantly committing the crime with a giant smile on his face. That’s the conundrum facing the poor, unfortunate attorney of Mitchell Todd Gardner II, the 500th person in America to be arrested for his role in the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
Hillsborough man’s arrest makes 500 charged in Capitol riot
Mitchell Todd Gardner II was arrested Friday. 👏🏻
https://t.co/IIldNUMAVR— LiA (@LibsInAmerica) June 29, 2021
Gardner was arrested and held in the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa, Florida over the weekend, where he awaits a court hearing on both felony and misdemeanor charges including destruction of government property, obstruction of an official proceeding, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, engaging in disruptive conduct with the intention of disrupting government business, disruption with loud, threatening, and abusive language, and and demonstrating inside the Capitol Building.
According to Tampa Bay Times:
‘Mitchell Todd Gardner II, whom federal prosecutors said has no fixed address but recently lived at a home in Seffner, was arrested Friday and held in the Pinellas County Jail over the weekend.
‘He made his first appearance Monday afternoon in a Tampa federal courtroom. He was told that he faces six pending charges, including destruction of government property and impeding an official proceeding, both felonies.’
New Capitol case: Mitchell Todd Gardner was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on Friday. Feds say he smashed a Capitol window and sprayed a canister at police on Jan. 6. He wore a Reagan-Bush sweatshirt. Case unsealed today.#leatherhaneshisway #SeditionHunters pic.twitter.com/jsn6HwoFJt
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) June 28, 2021
Gardner is not only suspected of having participated in the violence and destruction of the mob on Jan. 6, but of being a ringleader, which could make a significant difference in what charges he will eventually face and the sentencing that may come with it.
‘The prosecutor described him as having taken a “de facto leadership role” in the riots. He was seen on a ledge outside the Senate portion of the building, using a red canister in a black case to break a window, according to a statement of facts that accompanied a criminal complaint. He then entered the building and gestured for others to join him. Gardner was also seen spraying an unknown liquid from the canister at Capitol police officers, the complaint states.’
Feds unseal charges against another Capitol rioter, Mitchell Todd Gardner, who was arrested in Tampa, Florida.
Affidavit includes photos showing Gardner breaking through a Senate Mezzanine window with some kind of canister. pic.twitter.com/5TI0f2fkRW
— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) June 28, 2021
Like the other defendants before him, Gardner now faces a courtroom where he will have to defend actions that were caught on camera and proudly spread across social media. A witness says that Gardner admitted to them that “things got a little crazy” and confirmed his participation in the riots.
‘The prosecutor alluded to video footage that shows Gardner’s participation.
‘“The defendant’s facial expression says it all,” she said. “This is someone who is rejoicing in his unlawful conduct.”’
#LeatherHanesHisWay Mitchell Todd Gardner II https://t.co/zi6DGDhY4C pic.twitter.com/kSxn4XQbJL
— #SeditionHunters (@SeditionHunters) June 28, 2021
Featured image via Tampa Bay Times
