As Republicans downplay Jan. 6 violence, Missouri man’s case tests argument in court
Daniel Desrochers
Tue, March 21, 2023 at 12:30 PM GMT+1
Update: Yoder took the stand during the second day of his trial. Coverage of his testimony can be found here.
Isaac Yoder entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Dressed like a Revolutionary War soldier, Yoder climbed scaffolding, walked past broken glass through a fire exit and stayed in the building for about 15 minutes, after the certification of the 2020 presidential election had been delayed and lawmakers were hiding in a secure location.
But some argue Yoder, a locksmith from Nevada, Missouri, did nothing wrong.
Republicans have increasingly attempted to obfuscate the violence surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as former President Donald Trump runs for their party’s nomination. They’ve used examples like Yoder to downplay the violence that day.
Tucker Carlson, the popular Fox News host, used footage obtained from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to present the day as largely peaceful. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican whom some blamed for the riot, has said he thinks people who just entered the building have an argument that they didn’t break the law.
This week, those political arguments are being tested in court as Yoder stands trial at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Yoder is expected to take the stand on Tuesday.
The Missouri resident is charged with breaking four laws: entered and remained in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in the Capitol, violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol.
Earlier this year, he turned down an offer to plead guilty on one charge of parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building and requested a trial by jury and asked that it be moved to Missouri. When that was denied, Yoder requested a bench trial, meaning the judge will determine whether he’s guilty.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Yoder traveled with some members of his family to Washington to attend Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. Yoder frequently dresses in Revolutionary War replica clothing and on that day, he put on his hand-sewn outfit, complete with tricorn hat, a replica flag circa 1776 and a sword in a scabbard.
He wasn’t allowed past security at the rally, given the sword and flag, and so he stood by the Washington Monument, posed for pictures with other attendees and listened to Trump’s speech.
After the speech, he headed toward his car parked by the Capitol so he could wait for his family, who went to the rally. When one of his brothers arrived and told him that “Pence had caved” according to prosecutors and an FBI agent who interviewed Yoder, he headed off in the direction of the Capitol.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/republicans- ... 00706.html