Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Buzzfeed News reports:
Federal prosecutors are in “advanced plea negotiations” with an alleged Capitol rioter with Oath Keeper ties in exchange for his cooperation with the ongoing investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurgency, a new filing in federal court revealed Monday.
The public filing had apparently been made in error — prosecutors had intended to file it under seal because the defendant, Jon Schaffer, was already providing information to the government.
Revealing his cooperation “may reveal the existence, scope, and direction of the ongoing and confidential investigation,” Assistant US Attorney Ahmed Baset wrote in the brief, which was quickly removed from the public docket but has been viewed by BuzzFeed News.
Read the full article. Prosecutors say Schaffer used bear spray on Capitol police while wearing an “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member” hat. Schaffer is one of the few relative celebrities charged in the Capitol riot as he is lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Iced Earth. His case is being closely followed on metal aficionado sites.
WHEW: Prosecutors Are Nearing A Cooperation Deal With A Man Accused Of Using Bear Spray Against Capitol Police https://t.co/0L8K4W1mtd via @zoetillman
— Sarah Mimms (@mimms) April 5, 2021
BREAKING: We have our first plea agreement negotiation in the US Capitol Insurrection.
Per new court filing
Oath Keeper Jon Schaffer, accused of attacking police with bear spray. Feds say Schaffer is “anarchist” who views government as “criminal enterprise” pic.twitter.com/PGKCKzYsNw
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 5, 2021
Schaffer has been doing “debrief interviews” with the government since last month, and is in talks about a cooperation plea deal. Prosecutors had sought to file today’s doc under seal to avoid tipping off potential investigation targets https://t.co/dx4rgDWd3D
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) April 5, 2021