Many rioters who stormed the Capitol received long prison sentences. Sidney Powell, an architect of the effort to subvert the election, negotiated a misdemeanor plea deal and cooperation agreement.

Many rioters who stormed the Capitol received long prison sentences. Sidney Powell, an architect of the effort to subvert the election, negotiated a misdemeanor plea deal and cooperation agreement.

When Sidney Powell, a top ally of Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Thursday to crimes associated with the 2020 election, lawyers for many Jan. 6 defendants were stunned by her relatively meager sentence: six years of probation and a modest fine.

For years, those lawyers — and some judges — have lamented that the thousands who breached the Capitol were used as pawns and dupes by Trump, Powell and their associates in a bid to subvert the election. So Powell’s plea was the first taste of accountability for Trump’s inner circle. Yet her punishment, Jan. 6 defense lawyers noted, paled in comparison to even some of the low-level offenders who entered the Capitol that day and now face consequences that may dog them for life.

  • torknorggren@lemm.ee
    1292·
    1 year ago

    This is a ridiculous take. The plea deal was in a Georgia state RICO case, the rioters were tried in federal courts for totally different crimes. Powell, Cheese Bro, et al. still face charges in Jack Smith’s inquiry.

    • tburkhol@lemmy.world
      531·
      1 year ago

      My understanding is that Powell’s charges in GA were mostly related to some voting machine shenanigans in one county. Whatever else she may have done - fake lawsuits in 49 non-Georgia states, propaganda inciting mobs, even if she had, herself, stormed the Capitol - weren’t part of Georgia state charges.

      Jimmy McGill is going to try every possible whining, ridiculous take to get his clients preferential treatment, though. That’s why Jan 6 rioters better call Saul.

  • Splount@lemmy.worldEnglish
    452·
    1 year ago

    Boo hoo! Cry me a river.

    Maybe next time have enough sense to not toss in with traitors. Powell is despicable but she is now a useful idiot.

  • khepri@lemmy.world
    431·
    1 year ago

    Wow I wish there was some penalty for lawyers who deliberately made statements with this much bad faith. First off it’s State vs. Federal, so fuck off. Then we’re talking breaking into a building to prevent Congress from doing it’s job, while assaulting federal law enforcement, versus non-violent document, election, and conspiracy charges, so fuck off again. And by far most important, we’re talking about know-nothing foot soldiers who committed blatant federal felonies and had nothing to bargain with, vs Sidney the Goddamn Kraken Powell who must have hard evidence by the boatload that she forked over to score this deal, and who can directly testify about Trump’s words and actions and meetings she was in. There’s no comparison here, no equivalence, and these J6 defense lawyers trying to gin one up is just offensive.

  • theodewere@kbin.social
    272·
    1 year ago

    i think people who were charging the Capitol that day should have been shot dead on site… go ahead and feel gobsmacked all you want, you fucking traitors…

  • mateomaui@reddthat.comEnglish
    112·
    1 year ago

    On the other hand, I don’t think she actually took part in storming the capital and all the destruction and violence. She may be looney but at least she didn’t go that far.

      • mateomaui@reddthat.comEnglish
        11·
        1 year ago

        No fucking shit, but to the J6ers whining about why she got less punishment, that’s one reason. Along with pleading guilty and flipping.

  • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world
    115·
    1 year ago

    Yeah idk, maybe.

    But all of a sudden “Gobsmacked” is the word of the week.

    Jesus christ people try and at least kind-of think for yourselves.