U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, overseeing former President Donald Trump’s election interference case, dismissed the characterization of jailed Capitol riot defendants as “hostages,” a term frequently used by Trump and his allies. Chutkan stated that these defendants, who remain incarcerated in Washington, D.C., are not hostages or heroes, but are detained due to their dangerous actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
During a sentencing hearing for Antony Vo, a man convicted of participating in the Capitol riot, Chutkan expressed incredulity upon learning that supporters holding a nightly vigil outside the Washington jail referred to their gathering spot as “Freedom Corner.” Vo had attended this vigil during his trial, which Chutkan had previously ruled as a violation of his release conditions.
Trump’s trial for the election interference case was scheduled to start on March 4, but Chutkan agreed to postpone it while Trump pursues his claims of prosecution immunity. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments for Trump’s appeal later this month.
Chutkan sentenced Vo to nine months in prison after a jury convicted him on four misdemeanor counts related to the riot. She noted that Vo has consistently refused to express remorse or accept responsibility for his actions on Jan. 6. Despite this, Chutkan emphasized that she wasn’t punishing Vo for his insult or his political beliefs.
Chutkan has gained a reputation as one of the harshest punishers of Capitol rioters, often imposing prison sentences stricter than prosecutors’ recommendations. Vo’s attorney suggested that Chutkan may be an “outlier” compared to other judges who have sentenced Jan. 6 defendants, a notion Chutkan did not necessarily agree with.
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