An old thread but appropriate to developments as reported on Meidas Touch.
A Jan 6 protester on trial for four non-violent charges due to her entering the Capitol Building on Jan 6 asked for a Bench trial instead of a jury trial. Maybe she thought a bench trial would give her better odds but they went from no chance to absolutely no chance, based upon what the judge said. After recounting the many signs and barriers the protester crossed, the judge said this regarding what the protester must have known when she walke up to and into the Capitol building:
"Or, to enter the realm of the fabulist, perhaps it was only when she entered the Capitol through a broken door, an emergency siren blaring, These signs undoubtedly endowed MacAndrew with the knowledge that her presence was unlawful"
I don't know what MacAndrew's lawyers claimed but whatever the story, the judge shredded it.
Regardless, the judge ruling also relates to Trump's legal problems for his actions on Jan 6.
The judge agreed with the defendant that she was acting on Trump's orders. She pointed to testimony that the defendant knew Congress was in session to certify the election and that she was acting on Trump's orders, given in his speech that day, to stop Congress from fulfilling it's role as required under the Constitution.
Having followed then President Trump's instructions, which were in line with her desires, The Court then finds that Defendant intended her presence to be disruptive to Congressional business.
Nevertheless, heeding the call of former President Trump, she continued onward to "stop the steal". For her participation in the insurrection on January 6, 2021, the Court finds Danean MacAndrews GUILTY on all counts 1, 2, 3 and 4
So, here it is. Judge Kollar-Katelly ruled that at least one protester was heeding the call to enter the Capitol building to stop the steal. She ruled that Defendant participated in the insurrection on January 6. She ruled that she was doing this on Trump's instructions. This ruling breaks the "first-time" rule. People are always afraid of being the first one to say something that is bound to be controversial but after the first, the second comes quickly and then the third and then a chorus. I'm pretty sure we'll hear similar from other cases going forward.