Internet troll faces trial after Capitol riot plea fizzles
Source: Associated Press
A federal judge scheduled a trial next year for a far-right internet troll after the man, known to his social media followers as “Baked Alaska,” balked at pleading guilty on Wednesday to a criminal charge stemming from the U.S. Capitol riot.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan refused to accept a guilty plea by Anthime Gionet after he professed his innocence at the start of what was scheduled to be a plea agreement hearing. Instead, the judge set a March 2023 trial date for Gionet, who is charged with a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building.
“If he wants a trial, he’ll get a fair trial,” Sullivan said.
After privately conferring with Gionet’s lawyers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi said prosecutors would leave the plea offer open for 60 days. The judge scheduled a July 22 status hearing for the case.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-alaska-riots-d62b4e1038d2c86a6976b43134f107a5
Thoughts and prayers.
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