Lawyers Challenge Inauguration Day Rioting Charges Amid Claims of DOJ Conflict of Interest

screening people trying to go inside. Several lawyers offered a preview of their defense strategy during the hearing, arguing that the rioting charge should be dismissed because prosecutors hadn’t shown that each defendant was specifically involved in the rioting described in charging documents. Although the defendants were brought out in groups before the judge, they’re individually charged. One lawyer argued that the US attorney’s office should recuse from prosecuting the cases because the defendants were charged with participating in anti-Trump riots and Trump was now in charge of the US Department of Justice. “T appreciate all the creative arguments,” Magistrate Judge Rainey Brandt said in response, but she said that at this early stage of the case she only had to find that the government had shown probable cause to move the cases forward. The defendants are due back in court on various dates in February and March. 1. [https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1849163545/Zoe_Tillman_photol bigger.jpg] Zoe Tillman @ZoeTillman <https://twitter.com/ZoeTillman> Jan 21<https://twitter.com/ZoeTillman/status/822908408475095049> Ruemmler told reporters that her law firm Latham & Watkins has done work for the news outlet, Vocativ, which is how she got involved 1 reply 5 retweets 3 likes 2. 3. [https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1849163545/Zoe_ Tillman photol bigger.jpg] Zoe Tillman @ZoeTillman <https://twitter.com/ZoeTillman> Jan 21<https://twitter.com/ZoeTillman/status/822908213557415938> One journalist arraigned, lawyer says he was arrested while filming. He's represented by former White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler 0 replies 19 retweets 36 likes Inauguration Day protesters may face felony rioting charges<http://nypost.com/2017/01/22/inauguration-day- protesters-may-face-felony-rioting-charges/> By Sophia Rosenbaum<http://nypost.com/author/sophia-rosenbaum/> New York Post January 22, 2017 | 12:55pm Officials in the nation’s capital are throwing the book at anti-Trump protesters —threatening the people who were arrested <http://nypost.com/2017/01/20/dozens-arrested-as-anti-trump-protesters-clash-with-police/> with massive fines and up to 10 years in jail. The U.S. attorney’s office will seek to charge all 230 of the protesters who took to the streets on Inauguration Day — some damaging storefronts and clashing with police — with felony rioting. As of Saturday evening, 80 people had already been slapped with the heavy charges, which include fines of up to $25,000 and up to 10 years in jail, according to Buzzfeed.<https://www.buzzfeed.com/zoetillman/prosecutors-pursue-rioting-charges-over-inauguration-day- pro?utm_term=.dw6wmW1b#.ahOrzlyD> HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026657