Prosecutors seek a slowdown in Capitol attack cases, calling probe the 'most complex' in history

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico


U.S. attorneys cited the rapidly growing roster of defendants and the enormous cache of evidence they must sift through.

By KYLE CHENEY

03/12/2021 08:23 AM EST

Federal prosecutors have begun seeking 60-day delays across a series of Capitol riot cases, calling the probe “likely the most complex investigation ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.”

In a nine-page filing lodged in multiple cases Friday morning, U.S. attorneys handling cases stemming from the Jan. 6 insurrection cited the rapidly growing roster of defendants and the enormous cache of evidence they must sift through to get a complete picture of the crimes committed that day.

“The investigation and prosecution of the Capitol Attack will likely be one of the largest in American history,” prosecutors said, “both in terms of the number of defendants prosecuted and the nature and volume of the evidence.”

That evidence, they said, includes findings of more than 900 search warrants executed in nearly every state. It also includes more than 15,000 hours of surveillance and body-worn camera footage supplied by some of the 14 federal and local law enforcement agencies that participated in the Capitol response — from the FBI to the Secret Service to the Arlington, Va., police department.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/12/prosecutors-capitol-riot-investigation-475505

[Shell_Seas]

1. Nope. Reallocate resources and put more people on it.

[Deminpenn]

3. Are you interested in convictions or speed?

A prosecution is of no use if the process leading up to the trial isn't done correctly. There's a lot of evidence to review. There is time to get this right. The charged defendants aren't going anywhere.

[Shell_Seas]

6. I don't see why we can't have both. If there is a lot to go over, I get it....

Adding more people to the case can help them sift through eveidence.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

27. Adding more people doesn't necessarily make a project faster

Some people (not you) think that 9 women can make a baby in one month.

Read "The Mythical Man-Month" by F.P. Brooks.

Pretty soon, coordination and management costs start to eat up gains. "Adding people to a late project makes it later."

[Shell_Seas]

30. Look, I've had 4 kids, if science could figure out a way to have 9 women make 1 baby in 1 month

I'd be totally down.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. Another bit of wisdom from nerds: Make it right before you make it faster. . . . nt

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Wheels of justice grinding finely

I'd rather proceed at a pace that ensures a complete picture gets presented to juries than rush through it.

[PatSeg]

9. Yes, this is a major event in U.S. history

and any investigation needs to be thorough and accurate. Republicans want to sweep it under the rug, because it is not politically advantageous to put too much focus on it, like they did with 9/11. They can't use 1/6 in their campaign ads or bumper stickers. Once again showing that most republican politicians are republicans first and Americans second.

Yes, the investigation should take as long as it needs to reveal the truth.

[lagomorph777]

16. January 6th will definitely be in campaign ads.

But not GQP ads.

[PatSeg]

29. Exactly!

[central scrutinizer]

4. Let 'em stew in their cells as long as needed

To ensure that the prosecution has their strongest case.

[soothsayer]

5. Good, build the big picture

It’s gonna be a scary one

[SarcasticSatyr]

7. Haven't we freed up a lot of cells at GTMO?

We can put a few hundred on ice, until we can process their cases.

[modrepub]

8. What's The Statute of Limitation For These Crimes?

I understand the circumstances but delays always seem to work against certain segments of our society. Take the emoluments stuff the orange menace did which were delayed so long they were dismissed without examination. Or how about Alex Jones, hell Sandy Hook happened almost a decade ago and they're still working that through the court system. Don't forget the shooter in MN who's trial is delayed. Justice delayed is justice avoided.

[lagomorph777]

17. I doubt that's a consideration at this point. We're talking months, not years.

Justice rushed and botched is justice denied. We need to ensure that the terrorists are put away for a very long time.

[malthaussen]

10. I'll bet it is.

And if they follow the tentacles of the octopus everywhere they go, they'll still be investigating in 2040. That's job security, that is.

-- Mal

[gibraltar72]

11. I believe eventually they will get down to looking at

everyone that crossed a barrier at the capitol.

[Postal Grunt]

12. Look at AG Garland's track record before you despair.

AG Garland handled the OKC bombing investigation and trial. He went by the book, was demonstrably thorough, and left no loose ends to be tied up. It's reasonable to assume that he will expect the same kind of performance from his subordinates assigned to the myriad cases arising from the investigation.

[lagomorph777]

18. And the OK City perps paid dearly for their crimes.

[Historic NY]

13. All of them....they haven't even got to the insider's

[lagomorph777]

19. Yeah - if we rush this, the masterminds will get off scot-free.

[Justice]

14. 60-day delays are just fine.

[lagomorph777]

15. If this means holding the perps in detention longer, I'm fine with that.

Let these people do their jobs well, and maximize the prosecutions.

[Bayard]

22. I thought a lot of these people had been turned loose, pending trial?

[lagomorph777]

25. About half of them, last I heard.

But I think the tide is turning. Judges have faced big blowback.

[Corgigal]

20. Nope.

You could have rounded them all up , and sat them on the ground like you did BLM. However, you thought it was safer to just let everyone go home.

Get to work, your mistake. Fix it.

[Bev54]

21. Just one more reason to extend the federal judiciary

More judges needed, come on Joe add another 100 judges and more district appeals judges as well.

[Hekate]

23. Put more people on it

[BobTheSubgenius]

24. It would be infuriatingly ironic if defendants started appeals based on the "speedy trial" doctrine.

Using the fine points of a law drafted and perpetuated by the very governmental system they are trying to overthrow.

That is Greek tragedy level irony.

[Martin68]

26. Given the serious nature of the attack, and the complex mix of people and groups, this makes

a lot of sense. They need to get this right with a thorough investigation and tough enforcement.

[riversedge]

31. k and R

A pro-Trump mob gathers in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. | Jon Cherry/Getty Images