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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCapitol rioter claims he thought he was in a 'gift shop' when he went into a senator's office
Brian Stenz reportedly told investigators that he didn't know that he'd broken into an official senator's office after he entered the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the court documents filed on Thursday Stenz did not disclose that he had entered a senator's office or any office for that matter. Instead, he stated that he went into what appeared to be a bookstore or gift shop." It was Senator Merkley's office.
Posting a screen capture of the excerpt, legal expert Marcy Wheeler also included a photo from the filing showing Sen. Jeff Merkleys office. There was a bookshelf, conference table and chairs. There were no counters or cashiers, much less a room full of Capitol trinkets.
"In the video, Senator Merkley explained that rioters appeared to have 'smashed the door virtually off its hinges,' even though the door was unlocked. He pointed out how the floor was littered with debris," the filing said.
"He showed a scroll made for him by a Chinese calligrapher that rioters had torn from the wall. He said that the rioters 'left a Trump flag here to mark their presence.' Senator Merkley narrated how the rioters 'stole the laptop that was sitting on the table,' and panned across his conference table to show the damage and disarray. He then zoomed in on ashes and a cigarette butt on a desk to note that the rioters appeared to have been 'smoking something' in the office, before focusing on another discarded cigarette butt or joint on the floor. In Senator Merkleys words, one could 'count this office trashed.'"
https://www.rawstory.com/capitol-attacker-book-store-lie/
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.233158/gov.uscourts.dcd.233158.32.0.pdf
demtenjeep
(31,997 posts)that is where this dumbass got that defense from.
patphil
(6,035 posts)Others peed in the hall to mark their presence.
Same thing.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Dumbass.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Someone took a 'dump' in the hallway.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I've heard of people leaving dog shit in Amazon boxes on the front porch for disposal by porch pirates.
JustAnotherGen
(31,688 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,303 posts)*In a childish, whinny tone* - But when BLM trashes a gift shop nobody cares. I guess I should have been in one of them riots then I wouldnt be in jail, I would be a HEEEEEEERROOOO.
ProfessorGAC
(64,426 posts)...if I were a juror hearing this defense I know I'd think "This is the dumbest defense ever."
Went into a "gift shop" through a door knocked off its hinges, which was unattended, but a laptop was there, so they just took stuff.
From a "gift shop".
It's not just a lie. It's an amazingly stupid lie.
Somebody that dumb would never have gotten themselves to D.C.