We’ve heard some cryptic references from Jan 6 defendants about the prospect of future pardons. But this wasn’t cryptic. This was an explicit statement before Judge Chutkan by an accused rioter about a Trump return and its impact on a case.

Banuelos got the final word in… after his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on Banuelos’s behalf.

Before the video hearing ended, he predicted Trump would be back in office in six months … emphasizing “I have nothing to worry about”

Judge Chutkan strongly urges Banuelos NOT to serve as his own defense lawyer (pro se) and stick with court appointed attorney. But Banuelos is challenging the judge on each argument. Then he drops an F-bomb. “It’s hard for me to trust my lawyers”…. He adds

“Why am I still being held while others aren’t?”, Banuelos asks judge.

Judge explains a magistrate judge determined there was a potential dangerousness or flight risk. Then she mentions gun allegation

Banuelos faces multiple charges connected to “deadly weapon or firearm”

Banuelos tells judge Chutkan, “I fear for my life over in DC”… and questions why he’s likely being transferred to DC from the jail cell in Chicago

Chutkan — multiple times — tries to explain that because the crime is alleged to have occurred in DC, Banuelos must come here

Banuelos appeared by video feed from jail in Chicago and blasted his appointed defense lawyers, calling them “public pretenders”, said he isn’t being well-represented. “They’re f***ing” with me, he tells judge

The judge is …. Judge Tanya Chutkan

(More)

HOO BOY: Arraignment now in high-level Jan 6 case of John Banuelos of Illinois, who’s accused of firing gun amid mob outside Capitol

And it went off the rails… with Banuelos concluding: “Trump’s going to be back in office in 6 months, I’ve got nothing to worry about”

(MORE)

Scott MacFarlane US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan should be entitled to 'Hazardous Duty' compensation.

One footnote: Judge Chutkan emphasized that she has no control over how or where the US Marshals move a federal defendant. She added, with a smile, the Marshals are in charge “and even look after me”

Chutkan has suffered threats (one of which led to a federal charge against a

Jimmy Failla On the left, an American Nazi rally in 1939. On the right, last week's Trump rally. So, yeah, fascists

Donald Trump is preparing to be a dictator on day one - as he said himself.

When someone tells you who they are, listen.

We must reelect Joe Biden and elect a Democratic Congress to safeguard our democracy.

NEW: Brian Tyler Cohen and I discuss Trump's latest claim that he supports vote by mail. My bottom line is that this is nonsense. He has his lawyers in court fighting against mail-in voting.

Watch now! youtube.com/watch?v=B_5WWh…

NEW: The Justice Department files a brief urging the 11th Circuit to rule that a right-wing group did intimidate voters and violate the Voting Rights Act when it challenged the eligibility of over 364,000 Georgia voters before the 2021 Senate runoffs. democracydocket.com/cases/georgia-…

According to the Trump trial press pool:

'Trump exited the courtroom at 5:08 p.m. and opened by talking about the courtroom fireworks.

''You saw what we saw,' he said. 'That was an incredible display.' He seemed to call the judge 'a tyrant.''

As a reminder, this is the language of the gag order.

Also per the Trump trial press pool:

'Trump named witness Bob Costello by name in his remarks. 'You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow,' Trump said.'

TONIGHT: Adam Klasfeld joins Lawrence O'Donnell on The #LastWord . Tune in!

Trump shortly ago: 'You saw what happened to a highly respected lawyer today, Bob Costello. Wow.'

Costello is a witness.

Trump's gag order bars him from 'making ... public statements about known or reasonably foreseeable witnesses.'

MelissaJPeltier Khashoggi’s Ghost 🇺🇦🌻 George Conway Same kind of denial and projection that now has the majority of Trump fans saying that those that clearly dislike Trump are in denial and projection. (Cult).

MelissaJPeltier George Conway It certainly is jarring to watch all the Trump COVID press conference clips from just 4 years ago. He is vastly different today and it’s not good.