The rioter, a professional actor, represented himself in court.
A U.S. Capitol rioter was acquitted of all charges in a surprise ruling after he represented himself in court.
Broadway actor and Oath Keepers member James Beeks and fellow rioter and Oath Keepers member Donovan Crowl both agreed to a stipulated bench trial. They had both been charged on two felony counts—conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and civil disorder—in connection with their actions on January 6, 2021. Beeks opted to represent himself—an action that rarely sees success in criminal cases—whereas Crowl retained an attorney.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta shockingly ruled in Beeks’ favor, acquitting him of all charges, whereas Crowl was convicted on all accounts. Mehta was nominated by former President Barrack Obama.
Beeks’ acquittal was shocking because defendants who represent themselves are rarely acquitted. To make the ruling even more surprising, only one person who has been charged in relation to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot has been acquitted of all charges, according to a report by NPR. The report was first published on February 9, 2021, but is regularly updated and was most recently updated on July 7.
