A federal judge on Wednesday found D.C. corrections officials in contempt over the treatment of a Jan. 6 defendant and referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a civil rights investigation into whether other Capitol riot defendants are facing similar conditions.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said he would not issue contempt sanctions against D.C. Jail Warden Wanda Patten and Quincy Booth, the director of the D.C. Department of Corrections, after a long delay in turning over medical records related to a defendant's injury that required surgery.
Lamberth had found that the officials did not turn over records that were needed to approve the operation for defendant Christopher Worrell, a Proud Boys member charged with four felonies over the Jan. 6 riot.
“I find that the civil rights of the defendant have been abused," Lamberth, who was appointed by former President Reagan, said at a hearing Wednesday morning, according to The Washington Post. "I don’t know if it’s because he’s a January 6th defendant or not, but I find this matter should be referred to the attorney general of the United States for a civil rights investigation into whether the D.C. Department of Corrections is violating the civil rights of January 6th defendants ... in this and maybe other cases.”
The order is likely to have ripple effects for other Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom are still fighting detention orders after being denied bond.
Worrell, who is also being treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and contracted COVID-19 while incarcerated, broke his hand in jail in May and was recommended to have surgery the following month. In August, his lawyers said that corrections officials had done nothing other than provide anti-inflammatory medicine like Tylenol.
Lamberth reportedly said during Wednesday's hearing that corrections officials' failure was “more than just inept and bureaucratic jostling of papers.”
"Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within." GK Chesterton
“These High-Tech oligarchs are dangerous for democracy.” Devin Nunes
"It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will." Donald Trump's Victory Speech 11/9/16
INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT -- Frontpage mag
Civil rights breach He has been in custody since March.
“It’s clear to me the civil rights of the defendant were violated by the D.C. Department of Corrections,” Lamberth said. “I don’t know if it’s because he’s a Jan. 6 defendant or not.”
D.C. Jail Warden Wanda Patten and D.C. Department of Corrections Director Quincy Booth came before the judge Wednesday after documents requested by the court earlier — narrative notes from a medical specialist on a recommended surgical repair on Worrell's hand — failed to be submitted.
The notes were requested Oct. 8, and the judge on Tuesday considered the failure a potential violation of Worrell's civil rights and issued a "show cause" order.
The notes were provided later Tuesday. While he did not impose sanctions or penalties, the judge said he was referring the matter to the Justice Department to investigate whether the civil rights of the inmates in the jail are being violated.
"Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within." GK Chesterton
“These High-Tech oligarchs are dangerous for democracy.” Devin Nunes
"It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will." Donald Trump's Victory Speech 11/9/16
INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT -- Frontpage mag
"Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within." GK Chesterton
“These High-Tech oligarchs are dangerous for democracy.” Devin Nunes
"It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will." Donald Trump's Victory Speech 11/9/16
INSIDE EVERY LIBERAL IS A TOTALITARIAN SCREAMING TO GET OUT -- Frontpage mag
ZitatWhile he did not impose sanctions or penalties, the judge said he was referring the matter to the Justice Department to investigate whether the civil rights of the inmates in the jail are being violated.
While it's good to see the abuse acknowledged, why not sanctions and penalties plus refer the matter to the Justice Department ?
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."- Fredric Bastiat
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.- Orwell
Why on Earth would he refer the matter to the Biden Justice Department? One, they're the turkeys who put this Defendant there. Two,The Federal Corrections folks DENIED members of Congress access to the facility. Three, Biden's DOJ is more weaponized than U 238. Four, They're too busy going after Jan Sixers and parents of school age children. Five, Merrick Garland. 'Nuff said?