News

Federal Prosecutors Admit To Violating Legal Rights Of Capitol Riot Defendant, Request Charges Be Dismissed

capitolhilltim

Federal prosecutors on Monday, in what is described as a “rare mistake,” admitted to violating the legal rights of a Capitol riot defendant and asked a judge to dismiss the criminal charges against him.

At issue is the right to a speedy trial for Lucas Denney of Texas, which lawyers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office admit were violated in his case.

A press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicates Denney has been charged and accused of having “grabbed and shoved a police officer” and swinging a “long metal pole” at them, among other things.

He was detained in December without bail but wasn’t transferred to Washington for six weeks. A Politico report says that Denney spent more than three weeks in D.C. before anyone attempted to contact the court for a hearing.

Just last week, a federal judge slammed the Justice Department for “trampling” Denney’s rights.

RELATED: Judge Slams DOJ For ‘Trampling’ Rights Of Capitol Riot Defendant – ‘No Excuse To Treat A Human Being Like That’

Capitol Riot Defendant had Rights Violated

According to court documents, Lucas Denney, a defendant in the Capitol Riots, was denied his rights under the Speedy Trial Act.

You will be able to recall, readers, that the Sixth Amendment of The Bill of Rights includes the right of a speedy and open trial.

“There was nothing intentional or nefarious about the delay,” the attorneys write.

“It was an isolated incident, unlikely to happen again, and the time frame —while undoubtedly regrettable — is nevertheless not significantly egregious to warrant dismissal with prejudice,” the filing adds.

While they admit to violating Denney’s right to a quick trial and are requesting the charges be dropped, prosecutors are also seeking permission from the judge to refile because of the serious nature of the alleged crimes. 

“Dismissal should be without prejudice,” they note, “because the offense is serious, the error was unintentional, and the delay has not prejudiced Denney.”

RELATED: NEVER Trumpers Kinzinger and Hogan Could Run Against Trump in 2024

Human Rights Violations

News of the Capitol riot defendant’s legal rights being violated comes after a hearing last week in which U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui excoriated the Justice Department for their handling of some of the cases, including Denney’s.

Faruqui suggested the sheer size and scope of the January 6 investigation led to some defendants having their rights “trampled.”

The judge described Denney as being “lost” in the system because the government had “bitten off more than it can chew.”

“I am utterly at a loss,” Faruqui said to Denney during his hearing. “I see a person’s rights that have been trampled.”

Faruqui was formerly a federal prosecutor in the same U.S. Attorney’s Office leading the investigation.

In the Capitol Riot, more than 775 individuals were charged. At least two other defendants according to the Justice Department’s log remain held without bond.

Nicholas James Brockhoff was arrested in May of 2021 and pled not guilty in early September, while Ryan Samsel was arrested on January 30, 2021, but wasn’t indicted until August.