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Judge throws out plea deal for Jan. 6 defendant after he tells court he’s ‘innocent’

May 12, 2022 | | Print Article

A reportedly “far-right” internet personality who allegedly recorded himself inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6th riot had his plea deal nixed at the last minute by a federal judge after he admitted that he doesn’t believe he’s really guilty.

Anthime Joseph Gionet, known among the “far-right” as “Baked Alaska,” was set to plead guilty to a misdemeanor during a hearing Wednesday when Judge Emmet G. Sullivan asked him whether he believes he’s genuinely guilty, according to NBC News.

“I wanted to go to trial, but the prosecutors [said] if I [went] to trial, they would put a felony on me, so I think this is probably the better route. I believe I’m innocent … but they’re saying if I go to trial they’re going to hit me with a felony,” Gionet replied.

This prompted the judge to cancel the plea deal and schedule a trial for next year.

(Source: Video screenshot )

“If Mr. Gionet wants to go to trial, he’ll get a fair trial, like anyone and everyone else who has appeared before me, regardless of the charges. I’m not trying to trick you. … Don’t plead guilty to please me,” the judge reportedly said.

According to CNN, the judge added, “You’re going to get a fair trial, sir. Don’t plead guilty to please me. … It’s all about doing the correct thing for the correct reasons.”

BuzzFeed News notes that Gionet replied by stating, “Well fine, pick a trial date.”

Judge Sullivan, who last made headlines when he accused former Trump administration official Mike Flynn of treason in 2018, responded by scheduling a trial for March 7th, 2023.

Gionet’s original deal would have meant pleading guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol, a misdemeanor punishable by no more than six months behind bars.

According to NBC News, he’d originally faced charges of “entering or remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.”

News of Gionet’s plea deal being canceled triggered laughter and mockery from his far-left haters on social media:

But it appears he’s getting the last laugh, as he’s reportedly been granted extra time to decide whether or not to plead guilty or move forward with a trial.

“Gionet is due back before Sullivan on July 22 for an update on whether he’ll go forward with that agreement or proceed to trial,” as reported by BuzzFeed News.

Of course, to plead guilty, he’ll have to admit that he’s really guilty.

Following his hearing, Gionet posted the following message to his Telegram account: “God will have the last laugh. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Thank you for all the prayers and support today patriots.”

(Source: Telegram)

Records from the Justice Department state that during the Jan. 6th riot, Gionet live-streamed himself inside the U.S. Capitol.

“I estimate that between 2:00 p.m., and no later than 4:00 p.m., Anthime Joseph Gionet, also known as ‘Baked Alaska’ on social media platforms entered the United States Capitol without authorization to do so. While inside the Capitol Building, the defendant conducted an approximately 27-minute long livestream video on the ‘DLive’ platform, noting that he was ‘documenting’ the event. The video was later captured and posted to YouTube and Twitter, where your affiant viewed it,” they state.

The “affiant” is identified as a special agent with the FBI.

“At the 2:52 minute mark in the YouTube video the defendant, who is livestreaming the event from his device, turns the phone around to show his face and is clearly identifiable. The defendant is a known social media personality and is thus recognizable. At the 7:06 mark on the YouTube video the defendant approaches an exterior window and is offered a hand to exit the Capitol building. The defendant remarks ‘I’m staying’ and remains in the building,” the records continue.

“At approximately the 9:40 mark in the YouTube video the defendant can be heard remarking ‘We are in the Capitol Building, 1776 will commence again.’ At approximately the 12:40 mark in the YouTube video the defendant can be heard remarking ‘Unleash the Kraken, let’s go.’ The defendant is repeatedly heard encouraging other protestors not to leave.”

Based on the allegations by the Justice Department, it appears Gionet could have been hit with far more aggressive charges, including potentially inciting a mob.

BuzzFeed News notes that if he does keep the trial date, he will “continue to be on pretrial release and under court supervision,” meaning he’ll have to be on his best behavior, lest he violates the conditions of his release and is forced to spend the remainder of the time till his trial behind bars.

In fact, he already almost violated the conditions of his release last year.

“He got in trouble last year for filmed encounters with police that Gionet described as a ‘prank’; a judge warned that the incident seemed to skirt the line of violating his release conditions,” according to BuzzFeed News.

Vivek Saxena
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