WASHINGTON — A person who beforehand thought-about himself a supporter of the Black Lives Matter motion got here to the Capitol on Jan. 6 “with the intent of inciting the gang,” a federal prosecutor informed jurors throughout closing arguments in his trial on Wednesday.
John Earl Sullivan, often known as “Jayden
Sullivan, who filmed the capturing dying of rioter Ashli Babbitt after she tried to enter the Speaker’s Foyer by means of a window damaged by a pro-Trump mob, has change into a trigger célèbre on the best for these searching for guilty “antifa” or the left. The instigators of the violent felony acts dedicated by tons of of rioters through the storming of the US Capitol.
At trial, authorities prosecutors portrayed Sullivan as an “anti-establishment,” a fraud and chaos employee — whose firm was known as Insurgence USA — who wished to “burn every part down” through the Capitol assault.
“I’ll stand with anybody who’s prepared to tear this factor aside,” Sullivan stated in one of many quotes cited by prosecutors.
“It doesn’t matter whether or not Sullivan carried a digital camera to report his crimes,” Assistant U.S. Legal professional Michael Barclay informed jurors throughout closing arguments Wednesday. “He incited the mob at each step. He knew why he was there that day. He wished to tear every part down.”
Sullivan testified in his personal protection through the trial, presenting himself as a documentary photographer solely in getting the perfect shot.
“I used to be simply observing,” Sullivan stated throughout his testimony. “I adopted the gang, and I am there to doc.”
However prosecutors confirmed video after video of Sullivan doing extra than simply documenting, together with pulling out what they stated was a knife as rioters tried to breach the Home ground. Sullivan admitted that the movies confirmed that he claimed to have a knife, and he admitted to the jury that he introduced a knife with him on his journey. However he additionally informed jurors that he did not keep in mind if he had the knife with him contained in the Capitol, and stated he wasn’t certain if the knife-like object he was holding in one of many movies was really a knife.
“I do not keep in mind particularly bringing a knife with me,” Sullivan stated. “I am unsure if that is a knife.”
Sullivan described his speech from that day on as an try and mix in with the gang. “I am saying every part I can to maintain myself protected,” Sullivan informed jurors.
Prosecutors offered proof suggesting Sullivan’s rhetoric continued lengthy after he left the Capitol. In a name with members of his Discord channel after the riot, Sullivan bragged about being “on the entrance line” and the impression his rhetoric had on the mob.
“I introduced my megaphone to incite…” Sullivan stated. He stated he wished to “make these Trump supporters frown.”
Sullivan’s legal professional, Steven Kirsch, argued that his shopper’s intent was to movie the occasions that had been occurring on Jan. 6, and that jurors solely wanted to look at the 50-minute video he shot contained in the Capitol that day for proof.
“Recording historical past is in everybody’s curiosity,” Kirsch stated.
Kirsch stated Sullivan’s heated speech was “simply phrases” with no which means, meant to assist him mix in with the gang. “It was not his intention to burn the place down,” Kirsch stated, noting that Sullivan didn’t have any matches or lighter fluid with him. “His intention was to {photograph}.”
Citing a video through which Sullivan stated he was recording solely to forestall himself from being arrested, prosecutors stated the filming was merely a “ruse” for Sullivan to supply cowl for his actual purpose of inciting the mob.
“Every thing that got here out of his mouth was a hoax,” Assistant U.S. Legal professional Rebecca Lederer informed the jury, referring to Sullivan’s testimony. She stated the one factor extra offensive than his testimony was “his asking you to consider it.”
“He got here to interact in chaos,” Lederer added.
The federal government discovered that Sullivan “acquired at the least $90,875 in funds from at the least six corporations” — together with NBC Information — for the rights to his Capitol footage, and seized greater than $62,000 from his accounts.
About 1,200 defendants had been arrested in reference to the January 6 assault, and about 400 of them had been sentenced to jail phrases.
Jurors are anticipated to start deliberations Thursday morning in Sullivan’s trial.
