Many rioters who stormed the Capitol received long prison sentences. Sidney Powell, an architect of the effort to subvert the election, negotiated a misdemeanor plea deal and cooperation agreement.

Many rioters who stormed the Capitol received long prison sentences. Sidney Powell, an architect of the effort to subvert the election, negotiated a misdemeanor plea deal and cooperation agreement.

When Sidney Powell, a top ally of Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Thursday to crimes associated with the 2020 election, lawyers for many Jan. 6 defendants were stunned by her relatively meager sentence: six years of probation and a modest fine.

For years, those lawyers — and some judges — have lamented that the thousands who breached the Capitol were used as pawns and dupes by Trump, Powell and their associates in a bid to subvert the election. So Powell’s plea was the first taste of accountability for Trump’s inner circle. Yet her punishment, Jan. 6 defense lawyers noted, paled in comparison to even some of the low-level offenders who entered the Capitol that day and now face consequences that may dog them for life.

  • torknorggren@lemm.ee
    1292·
    1 year ago

    This is a ridiculous take. The plea deal was in a Georgia state RICO case, the rioters were tried in federal courts for totally different crimes. Powell, Cheese Bro, et al. still face charges in Jack Smith’s inquiry.

    • tburkhol@lemmy.world
      541·
      1 year ago

      My understanding is that Powell’s charges in GA were mostly related to some voting machine shenanigans in one county. Whatever else she may have done - fake lawsuits in 49 non-Georgia states, propaganda inciting mobs, even if she had, herself, stormed the Capitol - weren’t part of Georgia state charges.

      Jimmy McGill is going to try every possible whining, ridiculous take to get his clients preferential treatment, though. That’s why Jan 6 rioters better call Saul.