Judge mulls prospect of collision between Jan. 6 committee report and Oath Keepers trial [View all]

[MissMillie]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/judge-mulls-prospect-of-collision-between-jan-6-committee-report-and-oath-keepers-trial/ar-AAXos5B?ocid=U483DHP&li=BBnb7Kz

Could the Jan. 6 select committee’s final report force a delay in the seditious conspiracy trial of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and his co-defendants?

A federal judge raised that prospect during a hearing Tuesday amid a broader debate with Oath Keeper defense attorneys about whether to move the trial to another venue. U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta seemed deeply skeptical of that effort, but he pressed prosecutors about what should happen if the select committee releases its report right before or during the trial of the Oath Keepers.

“What if we find ourselves in a position where there are hearings, public hearings, going on in parallel with the scheduling of this trial or that an interim report is released … during trial?” Mehta wondered.

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FWIW, I think the judge's point deserves consideration. As much as I want the Oath Keepers to face the music, they are entitled to a fair and speedy trial.

At the same time, the American public is entitled to the 1/6 public hearings--sooner rather than later.

Change in venue doesn't seem to make all that much sense to me. A sequestered jury may be more appropriate. At the very least, the jury should not have access to the public hearings.

Judge Mehta's rulings have been very sound. I don't think he's bringing this up as a way of stalling the hearings.