In DC Case Infowars Staffer Montoya Barred From Talking to Witnesses - & Alex Jones?
Magistrate Harvey said Jones may be a witness to January 6, he declined to tell Montoya (who had no lawyer in Texas) who Witness-1 is, to not speak with her
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon PodcastSong
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
FEDERAL COURT, April 19 – Minutes into a break in the impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, accused insurrectionist Domenic Pezzola was ordered detained until trial by Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather. Inner City Press live tweeted it, below. There was an appeal.
Now on April 19, after the DC Circuit's decision in US v. Munchel,
DDC Magistrate Judge Michael G. Harvey held a proceeding on and with defendant Samuel Montoya. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here:
Montoya was arrested in Austin, Texas on April 13. He has an appointed lawyer for today, but will be retaining (paying) counsel going forward.
Judge Harvey: Is that true, Mr Montoya? Montoya: That is correct. Judge Harvey: Do you accept Mr. Miles for the next 3 minutes? Montoya: Yes.
Mr. Miles: It seems he did not have a lawyer in the Texas proceeding. Voice: We were on stand-by, but since the government did not seek detention, he was processed without a lawyer. Judge Harvey: What conditions? AUSA: Stay away from DC, no contact with witnesses.
Miles: My understanding is that Mr. Montoya's employer and fellow employees are witnesses. AUSA: Yes, he works for InfoWars of Alex Jones.
AUSA: Mr. Jones spoke about a witness... He said, She wouldn't even come to dinner because he is a conservation. He said, We know who she is. The government requests, no contact with witnesses like W-1
AUSA: We cannot prove, today, that Mr. Montoya has Mr. Jones make that statement. But we are trying to prevent this happening in the future.
AUSA re-reads what he says Alex Jones said. Judge Harvey said he's taking a break to read the complaint, which he hasn't yet. [Note: here's DOJ's statement of facts, here
From DOJ statement: "W-1, a family member of Samuel Christopher Montoya... stated that Montoya worked for #Infowars and that Montoya showed a video of himself walking through the Capitol and captured footage of the death of #AshliBabbitt."
Defense lawyer Miles: There are First Amendment issues here. If Mr Jones cross the line, the government can act on that. Judge Harvey: The government is saying, Don't speak with Witness-1. We don't know if Mr. Jones was a witness on January 6
Judge Harvey: No communications with Witness-1. It is Federal crime to intimidate or harass a witness in this case
Judge Harvey: Alex Jones may be a witness to January 6, I don't know. I read things. I don't want Mr Montoya to lose his job, so I'm trying to limited it to Witness-1. Miles: They'd have to say who Witness-1 is. Judge: Then I could ban talk with all witnesses
Miles, after a break: To say, All witnesses would make it impossible for him to work. And he has a big family. He'd need to know who Witness-1 is, to not violate such an order. Why not just say, No obstruction?
AUSA: A public person has already intimidated her Judge Harvey: I'll order he not communicate with any witness about event of January 6. This may include your employer, Mr. Montoya. He may be a witness. Texas' prohibition was broader. Miles: He had no lawyer.
Judge Harvey: That's my ruling. You did a fine job
We will have more on this.
Inner City Press live tweeted Riley June Williams on January 25, here.
InnerCityPress · Jeffrey Sabol, insurrection Blues III, by Matthew Russell Lee
From January 22, song here: Thread here.
InnerCityPress · Insurrection Blues, by Matthew Russell Lee
Inner City Press' John Earle Sullivan song on SoundCloud here.
InnerCityPress · John Sullivan Insurrection Blues II by Matthew Russell Lee
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