Prosecutors Are Nearing A Cooperation Deal With A Man Accused Of Using Bear Spray Against Capitol...

[Nevilledog]

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Zoe Tillman
@ZoeTillman
Prosecutors are close to a plea deal with Jon Schaffer, an alleged Capitol rioter with Oath Keeper ties — that's per a new government filing that mistakenly ended up on the public docket https://buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/capitol-riots-jon-schaffer-plea-deal-talks-oath-keepers… w/ @kenbensinger & @jvgarrison

Prosecutors Are Nearing A Cooperation Deal With A Man Accused Of Using Bear Spray Against Capitol...
Jon Schaffer, who wore an Oath Keepers hat on Jan. 6, has been doing “debrief” interviews and is a potential cooperator, according to a court filing that was mistakenly posted publicly.
buzzfeednews.com
4:13 PM · Apr 5, 2021

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/capitol-riots-jon-schaffer-plea-deal-talks-oath-keepers

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors are in “advanced plea negotiations” with an alleged Capitol rioter with Oath Keeper ties in exchange for his cooperation with the ongoing investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurgency, a new filing in federal court revealed Monday.

The public filing had apparently been made in error — prosecutors had intended to file it under seal because the defendant, Jon Schaffer, was already providing information to the government. Revealing his cooperation “may reveal the existence, scope, and direction of the ongoing and confidential investigation,” Assistant US Attorney Ahmed Baset wrote in the brief, which was quickly removed from the public docket but has been viewed by BuzzFeed News. It was not immediately clear how the document ended up on the public docket.

The government had previously shared in public court filings and hearings that it is extending plea offers to some of the more than 350 people charged to date with participating in the Capitol insurrection. But prosecutors have been nonspecific about the timelines and terms of those plea negotiations and in this filing said its negotiations with Schaffer were “the first and most advanced” involving “any of the over 300 Capitol Riot defendants.”

Among other things, Schaffer, who is 53 and from Columbus, Indiana, was charged with spraying US Capitol Police officers with “bear spray” as he and other rioters tried to push officers back in order to force their way into the Capitol. Prosecutors said Schaffer, whom they note is well known for his role as the guitarist and main songwriter for the heavy metal band Iced Earth, was captured on surveillance tape inside the Capitol building carrying “bear spray” and holding clear sunglasses. He was arrested on Jan. 17 and has been in detention since then..

*snip*

[marble falls]

1. No plea deals. No "time served".

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Sure hope it's worthwhile for the prosecution

If they're willing to let this shitstain skate, he must be ratting out something and/or someone really heinous.

[TomSlick]

12. I doubt he will "skate."

It is reasonable to give him some reasonable charging or sentencing consideration in exchange for serving up either bigger fish or one whole lot of fish the same size.

[ret5hd]

3. What's the likelihood this was "leaked"...

for others to see that "You are SO f'ed! Might as well tell what you know!"

It just seems unlikely to me that someone would accidentally file this on a public docket when they have been filing these with regularity. Or am I missing something?

[dem4decades]

5. I thought the same thing but mistakes happen. Biden's group had been so good

So far, hard to believe they'd screw this up.

[Irish_Dem]

11. I wasn't buying the leak story either. Why would the prosecution want a leak?

Who gets squeezed?

[TomSlick]

13. Occam's Razor applies. The most simple explanation is a mistake.

E-filing of court documents is great - I love it. However, extreme care must be taken to be sure you are filing the correct document. Pleadings tend to go through a lot of versions and edits before it's time to file and it would be easy to file the wrong version.

I have a system of moving the documents I want to file into a separate sub-file named "TO BE FILED." I then check it several times before hitting the "submit filing" button. Even so, I'm always a bit nervous about hitting that button.

[Maru Kitteh]

4. We negotiate with terrorists and seditionists now.

super.

[dem4decades]

7. Think about it. He's giving up bigger fish.

[Lisa0825]

9. BINGO nt

[jmowreader]

6. Hopefully he'll give us Trump

If he can, I'd be happy with five years in the stockade for him. You and I know Trump is responsible for all this, but that won't stand up in court.

[Akacia]

8. I dont know I really think that since he sprayed officers

he should not get a plea deal. Give the deal to peeps that were not violent. If they do give him a deal I certainly hope he shares worthwhile information.

[CanonRay]

10. I think they are trying to take down these entire groups

Oath Keepers, 3%ers and Proud Boys via RICO and they need insiders to wrap it up in a conspiracy.