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The siege on the Capitol was an event to remember, for both people watching from home, to the people who took part in it. On January 6th, the dignity of the Capitol was stripped away by people who were led to believe a fair election was stolen. Many speculate where these people who took part in this act of violence are now. The answer is in restrictive housing as “maximum security” prisoners.
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Lisa Eisenhart, the mother of “zip-tie guy” Eric Gavelek Munchel, was being held in pretrial dentition for weeks while her son was being held in a maximum-security lockup waiting for his trial. Court papers state that Eisenhart was carrying flexicuffs. When asked about them, she replied with “We picked them up to prevent them falling into hands of bad actors.” - (lawandcrime.com)
In late January, a federal judge ordered for Munchel’s pretrial release before another judge could put an end to that plan. Munchel’s lawyer Caryll S. Alpert, says his client only went into the Capitol to protect his mother.
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Attorney Gregory S. Smith says his client Lisa Eisenhart was awaiting her trial in solitary confinement and maximum security like others accused of the Capitol riot on January 6th. “By the DOC’s own admission, if a defendant is charged with a January 6th U.S. Capitol offense and detained, they automatically get placed in restrictive housing–and are treated as ‘maximum’ security detainees,” Smith wrote - (lawandcrime.com)
Senior Judge Royce Lamberth explains that the defendant Lisa Eisenhart has not shown that the Department of Corrections has treated her differently than the other inmates that have been held to the same offenses. Eisenhart states that Munchel has received a lighter treatment and can have interactions with other inmates. According to lawandcrime.com, Judge Lamberth states: “The defendant argues that she is entitled to an individualized assessment of her placement,” the judge wrote in a footnote. “To the contrary, she has no such right; the Court will only review detainee placements if they are so arbitrary as to be irrational.”
Judge Lamberth further explains that there is no evidence pertaining to gender discrimination in Eisenhart’s pretrial lockup. Also, it is noted that Eisenhart does not explain how her pretrial is unfair to Munchels.
Court papers also show that Eisenhart claims she was at the Capitol as an “observer.” She also continues to say, “This country was founded on revolution… I’d rather die a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression. I’d rather die and would rather fight”
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Another person who is linked to the Capitol siege is 41-year-old Kenneth Harrelson from Florida. Federal prosecutors say that Harrelson is a part of the group “the Oath Keepers”, a far-right militia group whose plan was to march up the stairs of the Capitol and start the riot.
Harrelson will stay in jail until Monday. After that, there will be a hearing on whether he will be detained before the trial starts. Harrelson could face up to 36 years in prison with a fine up to $850,000. CBS News states, “Federal authorities said Harrelson previously served in the U.S. Army, and that the Oath Keepers — a loose collection of individuals who believe the government is attempting to strip Americans of their rights — are focused on recruiting current and former military members, law enforcement and first-responders.” Out of the nine Oath Keepers that were at the riot, it was indicated that five of them previously served in law enforcement or in the military. Harrelson is also seen on January 6th interacting with other Oath Keeper members which included him making payments to the group and communicating over the phone with members before the day of the siege.
According to mynews13.com, “Harrelson faces three similarly worded but separate charges alleging he aided and abetted the disruption of a government proceeding. The punishments for each carry maximum prison terms of five, 10, and 20 years in federal prison. He is also accused of entering a restricted area. That charge is punishable by up to one year in federal prison.” Action taken in the court on Thursday, March 11th was to find any Florida or Central Florida connections from the January 6th riot.
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