Trial opens for police officer charged with storming U.S. Capitol
An off-duty police officer stormed the U.S. Capitol because he believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump and he wanted to interfere with the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday at the start of the Virginia man’s trial.
Two other Capitol riot defendants already have been tried on federal charges arising from the Jan. 6 siege. The first two trials both ended with convictions, although a judge acquitted one of those defendants of a disorderly conduct charge. “His intent was to interfere with the election because it did not have the result that he wanted,” Aloi said.
Robertson is charged with six counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building while using a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Five of the counts relate to his actions on Jan. 6. The sixth stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker.
Robertson and Fracker both served as police officers in Rocky Mount. The town, which is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents, fired both of them after their arrests. After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbour walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, prosecutors said. Robertson stopped to help his neighbour, who was having trouble breathing. Fracker broke off and entered the building before Robertson, but they reunited inside the Capitol.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-cop faces jury trial on U.S. Capitol riot chargesOver a year ago, two off-duty police officers from a small town in Virginia were charged with storming the U.S. Capitol together. A trial for one of them starts this week. The other could be a key prosecution witness.
Read more »
Alleged militia leader on trial at ICC's first Darfur trialAn alleged leader of a Sudanese militia known as 'devils on horseback' took a 'strange glee' in his ruthless reputation during the Darfur conflict, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Tuesday as the suspect's trial opened.
Read more »
Russian ex-journalist calls treason charge ‘travesty’ as trial set to start‘For a year and nine months I have been forced to say that I am guilty of high treason,’ Russian ex-journalist says. ‘But I repeat and will repeat – I am not guilty’
Read more »
First trial addressing alleged war crimes in Darfur to open at the International Criminal CourtSuspected former Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman faces 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity
Read more »
Jury selection begins in Nikolas Cruz trial for Parkland, Florida mass school shootingJury selection begins for Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty to the premeditated murder in 2018 of 14 students and three members of the staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida
Read more »
Biden: Putin should face war crimes trial for Bucha killingsPresident Joe Biden on Monday called for a war crimes trial against Russia President Vladimir Putin and said he'd seek more sanctions after reported atrocities in Ukraine.
Read more »