A federal judge seems likely to uphold the charges against an active duty U.S. Marine stationed at Quantico arrested for his role in the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Maj. Christopher Warnagiris, of Woodbridge, had a virtual status conference before Judge Paul Friedman on Wednesday.
Warnagiris is charged with assaulting an officer, civil disorder, obstruction of the U.S. Congress, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress, entering a restricted building without authority, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, physical violence in a restricted building, disorderly conduct at the U.S. Capitol, physical violence at the Capitol and demonstrating in the Capitol.
Warnagiris has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which could cumulatively carry more than 49 years in jail. He is the highest-ranking active-duty military officer charged in the insurrection, according to The Intercept.
The FBI has said that Warnagiris "violently entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, after pushing through a line of police officers guarding the East Rotunda doors.”
Warnagiris’ attorney, Maria Medvin, has asked for the case to be suspended and the obstruction of an official proceeding charge to be dismissed based on a ruling in a separate Jan. 6 case.
Quantico Marine Corpse Maj. Christopher Warnagiris charged in Capitol riot.
The ruling in question from U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols said that the Justice Department cannot charge Jan. 6 defendants with obstructing Congress’s certification of President Biden’s 2020 election victory unless the defendants tampered with official documents or records in the attack, according to The Washington Post.
That ruling was in the case of Garret Miller, of Texas, who pleaded guilty to nine criminal charges on Thursday but will face a trial on two more charges starting Friday.
Nichols’ highly technical ruling broke with at least seven other federal trial judges, including Friedman, who have ruled in favor of the Justice Department’s interpretation of the law, the Post reported.
“He’s the only judge that’s taken that opinion,” Friedman said Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors have appealed Nichols’ ruling, and the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear arguments this month.
Friedman offered his opinion on Medvin’s motion and said he could make a ruling during Wednesday’s hearing, but Medvin requested the ruling be reserved until a later hearing.
“I have no reason to think there’s anything you’d say that would change my mind,” Friedman said. “I can’t imagine the Court of Appeals would disagree with me and agree with Judge Nichols.”
Friedman agreed to hold off his ruling until the next hearing, which was scheduled virtually for 10 a.m. Feb. 24.
(20) comments
@Novaborn:
There is quite a lot of evidence showing armed protesters:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/07/08/jan6-defendants-guns/
And the insurrectionists, used clubs, bear spray, flagpoles as spears, etc.
So to say there were no weapons is just a LIE
if there were why werent they used
God I wish they would have. Then the police/Secret Service would have pulled a Kent State on all the idiots who charged in.
If Jan 6th was an insurrection to overturn the "fortified election " then where were their weapons? This is nothing but political mudslinging by media.
Um no. There is quite a lot of evidence of rifles and handguns shown by the insurrectionists. Police were beaten with axe handles, flag poles, shields, pieces of fence etc. Just because it doesn't go BOOM or POW doesn't mean it is NOT a weapon.
It is a simple concept most would understand it fairly easily.
none at all?
How bout you answer this question: Why did the protestors storm the Capital and what was their endstate?
Surely they weren't there to tour the place. And, being adults of voting age, they should have some inkling of the relevant federal laws of trespassing on federal property.
Whoever supports the events of Jan 6th should give up their citizenship because they straight up hate America.
Jan 6th was not an insurrection. It was a protest. FBI colluding with foreign assets to spy on Trump while campaigning in 2015 then actively supporting a restiance against a sitting president for four years was an insurrection. If this person committed crimes then prove the case and stop with the opinions about it.
I love how toxic Trump is now.
Didja hear about the storage container full of classified docs?! Surely that isn't a crime.
You simp for a con-artist. You all got played. AND you keep giving him money.
"not an insurrection?" Let's just assume you were dropped on your head for a moment. This major deserves to go to prison and so do you for even saying this.
Hey Wayne, were you one of the insurrectionists trying to overturn the results of the 2016 elections by attacking police, burning cars, vandalizing buildings and inuring thousands on January 20, 2017? It looks like CNN has video of you and your pals. https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/19/politics/trump-inauguration-protests-womens-march/index.html
But of course their coverage is mostly a glowing endorsement as I guess that was the good kind of political violence. The double standards of the vile left!
Maybe we should get your cell phone records to confirm your participation. Or maybe raid your home at 5am some unsuspecting morning.
My, how Authoritarian of you. And threatening the original poster.
What's next shooting anyone on sight if they're not wearing a MAGAt hat?
I notice you conveniently ignore the subsequent judicial inquiries that concluded that the police massively overreacted.
But hey don't let facts get in the way of your narrative right?
[thumbup][thumbup][thumbup]
Thanks for the link.
Did the protesters storm the Capital in with the hope to capture it's Congressional leaders and subsequently overthrow the government?
It fits well within the definition of an armed insurrection.
---
18 U.S. Code § 2383 - Rebellion or insurrection
Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
---
That you sympathize with, condone and excuse these traitors says volumes about you and your character.
You are providing a definition that does not apply since there was a clear lack of armed individuals. Hence, you are playing along with the misinformation about the whole affair. Also, attempting to declare moral superiority to an event based on misinformation. This is why nobody is buying the Jan 6th event, especially after 2016-2020 attack on the Trump administration. Furthermore, I didn't vote for Trump. Just honest about what has happened.
Court records and news reports show that many insurrectionists were armed, and several were charged with having firearms on Capitol grounds or stashed nearby while in Washington D.C. In addition, rioters had weapons other than firearms and used them during the attack.
https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2021/07/14/some-jan-6-capitol-rioters-were-armed-guns-documents-show/7963993002/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-protest-cases-insight/arrested-capitol-rioters-had-guns-and-bombs-everyday-careers-and-olympic-medals-idUSKBN29J2V8
So why do you keep lying about that?
[thumbup][thumbup][thumbup][thumbup]
Awaiting the proof of armed people attempting to overthrow the US government and not a link to another attempt at misinformation to the public. This is truly fascinating.
@Paul
It would be a shame if texts from top Republicans made it out to the public
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/02/politics/read-mark-meadows-texts-january-6-capitol-riot/index.html
I especially like this exchange:
2:28 p.m.: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to Mark Meadows
Mark I was just told there is an active shooter on the first floor of the Capitol Please tell the President to calm people This isn’t the way to solve anything
2:32 p.m.: Laura Ingraham to Mark Meadows
Hey Mark, The president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home.
2:32 p.m.: Laura Ingraham to Mark Meadows
This is hurting all of us
2:33 p.m.: Laura Ingraham to Mark Meadows
He is destroying his legacy and playing into every stereotype … we lose all credibility against the BLM/Antifa crowd if things go South
2:34 p.m.: Carlton Huffman to Mark Meadows
You’ve earned a special place in infamy for the events of today. And if you’re the Christian you claim to be in your heart you know that
2:34 p.m.: Laura Ingraham to Mark Meadows
You can tell him I said this
2:35 p.m.: Mick Mulvaney to Mark Meadows
Mark: he needs to stop this, now. Can I do anything to help?
2:38 p.m.: Michael Shear to Mark Meadows
Hey mark. Protestors are literally storming the Capitol. Breaking windows on doors. Rushing in. Is Trump going to say something?
2:44 p.m.: Rep. Barry Loudermilk to Mark Meadows
It’s really bad up here on the hill.
2:44 p.m.: Rep. Barry Loudermilk to Mark Meadows
They have breached the Capitol.
2:45 p.m.: Jake Sherman to Mark Meadows
We are under siege in the cpaitol
Can you describe the context of what is going on or are you just going to ignore all of the evidence and make up BS again.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.