WASHINGTON – The January 6 rioter was called “Sedition PandaEach of the eight charges he faced for the suit he wore during the storming of the Capitol, incl attack police officer.
Jesse James Rumson was found guilty Friday of assaulting Prince George’s County Cpl. Scott Ainsworth, a lifelong Republican testified about the January 6 riots during Rumson’s trial last week.
Ainsworth testified that it was difficult to come to terms with being attacked by members of his own party. “I’m a Republican, these are my Republican colleagues,” he said, adding that some Republicans in his life want nothing to do with him because of his service on Jan. 6, 2021.
“Are you crazy?” Ainsworth recalled that those in the GOP who supported what happened on January 6 thought: “It was stupid, it wasn’t necessary.”
Rumson opted for a bench trial on Jan. 6 before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Donald Trump appointee who is one of the most lenient judges on defendants. Nichols is responsible for denying the formal prosecution of hundreds of rioters on January 6. is currently an issue before the Supreme Court.
Nichols said Friday that evidence showed Rumson “rushed toward police multiple times” before attacking Ainsworth, saying the evidence of the assault was “crystal clear” and calling some of Rumson’s and his attorney’s arguments “absurd.” Rumson claimed during his testimony that he did not realize he was being restrained until he was inside the Capitol building, although evidence showed that he jumped over the railing and joined the surging crowd seconds after the window on the door was smashed. reeded January 6 rioter William Bierbrodt, who has since passed away. Ramson was handcuffed inside the Capitol and lost his panda head and backpack, but was freed from his handcuffs by other members of the mob once he got outside.
While standing in front of the building, Rumson shouted, “Get a ram!” video evidence from the trial was shown as rioters smashed a window; he claimed in court that he “couldn’t understand”. He admitted making contact with Ainworth’s helmet, but claimed it was accidental. He gave no rational explanation as to why he repeatedly rushed to the police.
According to Nichols, evidence showed that Rumson listened to former President Trump’s entire speech before going to the Capitol that morning, and evidence showed that Rumson witnessed chaos and conflicts between protesters and police before he went to the upper west terrace. , finally inside the building.
Nichols said there can be no reasonable doubt that Rumson knew he was not allowed to enter the Capitol, especially after he was handcuffed and continued to remain on the field for 90 minutes after being released. Attack on Ainsworth.
Nichols found that Rumson “grabbed and lifted” Ainsworth’s mask and that Rumson “grabbed the face shield and pushed it back and up,” calling Rumson’s testimony on the stand “completely inconsistent with the video and the testimony evidence before me.” According to Nichols, Rumson’s testimony “cannot be reconciled” with the evidence in the case.
“His behavior at the Capitol was no accident,” Nichols said.
Nichols set Rumson’s sentencing for 11 a.m. Sept. 5, allowing the “Sedition Panda” to remain free after the government refused to go into custody after his conviction.