Capitol rioter Cody Mattice has been ordered to be held in jail until his trial on charges connected to an assault he perpetrated on police at the Capitol. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordered Mattice’s continued detention on Friday after having previously left him in custody while reviewing materials relevant to his case. In her new order for Mattice to remain in detention, Howell overruled a prior choice by federal Judge Mark Pedersen for the defendant to be allowed out of custody before his trial. Howell also acted against the wishes in seventeen letters submitted on Mattice’s behalf by his family and friends, who advocated for his release.
At the Capitol, Mattice removed a police barrier and deployed pepper spray at cops — and if he didn’t think that he was going to face serious consequences for targeting police in such a manner, then what rock has he been living under? As summarized by a Rochester, New York-area NBC affiliate, Howell’s ruling for Mattice to remain in custody “referenced Mattice’s alleged attempt to injure officers, text messages showing prior planning with [fellow Capitol rioter James] Mault, and that Mattice came to DC to disrupt government business on the day of the riot.” Howell also “said Mattice has no remorse and is a danger to the community,” as summarized by the outlet.
Mault was already ordered to be held in custody ahead of his own trial, although there’s no immediate indication as to when trials for either defendant might take place. Mattice’s federal charges — of which there are apparently seven — include assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury, which appears to be a felony offense. Mault is facing the same charge of assaulting officers. Ahead of the riot, Mault texted Mattice that he had obtained pepper spray and a baton for his use, which Mattice called “fucking dope” in response. Now, they’re both in prison and facing federal felony charges.
Prosecutor also quotes Mattice texting “Yooooo!!!! That’s fucking dope!!” when Mault told him he’d got him pepper spray and a baton.
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) October 22, 2021
Donald Trump is not only continuing to push the lies about the integrity of last year’s presidential election that originally inspired the riot — he’s also pushing the notion that what the rioters at the Capitol actually did was in some way excusable. Referring to his false election fraud claims, Trump said just this week that the “insurrection took place on November 3, Election Day. January 6 was the Protest!” This is what the current standard-bearer for the Republican Party is doing — explicitly and publicly excusing political violence. This is a serious danger.
NEW!
"The insurrection took place on November 3, Election Day. January 6 was the Protest!" – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/3vjF4mwq3K
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) October 21, 2021
