Virginia cop convicted on all 6 charges in 2nd Jan. 6 Capitol siege case to go before jury
A federal grand jury on Monday evening convicted Thomas Robertson, a Virginia police officer fired for his participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, on all six felony and misdemeanor charges tied to those actions. The convictions included felony obstruction of Congress as it counted the 2020 presidential electoral votes, plus civil disorder, entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, violent entry, and evidence-tampering.
Robertson, who was a police officer in Rocky Mount, Virginia, when he participated in the Capitol riot, is the second Jan. 6 defendant convicted after a jury trial, out of two cases that have gone before a jury. The other defendant, Guy Reffitt, was convicted on all five charges brought by prosecutors. Two other cases have been decided by bench trial; U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed in 2017, acquitted one defendant of all charges and partially acquitted a second one.
Nearly 800 people have been arrested in the Justice Department's sprawling investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol siege, and about 250 have pleaded guilty.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Robertson's trial "featured harrowing footage of the mob and testimony from a co-defendant," Jacob Fracker, "who served on the police force with Robertson at the time of the Jan. 6 attack," Politico reports. "Fracker pleaded guilty to his involvement in the breach and testified that Robertson was the driving force behind their actions that day," and "helped get rid of their cellphones after Jan. 6." The video footage showed Robertson in a gas mask, wielding a long stick that his lawyers argued was just a walking stick.
"At the time, that was all fun and games," Fracker testified. But "my mom would slap me in the face if she saw what I was doing that day. I sit here today ashamed of my actions. I didn't have to do all that stuff, but I did."
"I absolutely hate this," Fracker added. "I've always been on the other side of things. The good guys side, so to speak." He said he took the plea deal and agreed to testify against his former friend to cut down his prison sentence, so he could spend more time with his young daughter.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Swearing in the UK: a colourful history
In The Spotlight Thanet council's bad language ban is the latest chapter in a saga of obscenity
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published