WASHINGTON – A Donald Trump fan who believes that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen, told the jury at his trial that he felt “very comfortable” in the senator’s chair during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2018.
Brandon Fellows is defending himself in the trial that started last week. He has described Jan. 6 as a “beautiful” day and liked that members of Congress and senators were afraid for their lives.
Fellows testified on Tuesday that the elections had been stolen.
Fellows faces a federal felony of obstruction of a proceeding, aiding and abetment along with misdemeanors for the attack on the Capitol. He is also accused of smoking pot in a secret office of Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore).
Fellows stated, “I had no idea it was the desk of a senator.” It felt very comfortable.
Fellows claimed that he was fighting “the corrupt government” in the streets of New York on January 6, but he said he didn’t take part himself in violence, even though he supported such acts. Fellows stated that he thought that some violence was better than more violence in the future.
Fellows stated, “It is the house of the people.” “We had a right to overthrow the house.”
The U.S. district judge Trevor McFadden stated that Fellows forfeited the right to engage in an argument because he did not answer yes or no questions when answering questions from the government during its cross-examination.
Fellows said, as he left the witness stand: “I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Kangaroo Court.”
McFadden was appointed by Trump and he has been critical of some government approaches to Jan. 6 cases. He has also often given sentences that are far lower than those requested by government.
After Fellows’ testimony, the jury concluded its hearings at noon on Tuesday. The jury instructions and closing arguments were scheduled to occur on Tuesday afternoon.
Around 1,100 people were charged with the attack on the U.S. Capitol that occurred on Jan. 6, and more than 300 defendants received prison sentences. Another federal judge will sentence this week five members of Proud Boys. Four of them were convicted of conspiracy to seditiously. The government is requesting sentences for 33 years from two defendants, Enrique Tarrio, and Joseph Biggs, as well as 30 years and 27 years respectively for Zachary Rehl and Ethan Nordean, and 20 years and 20 years respectively for Dominic Pezzola.
