Capitol rioter Anthony Robert Williams got a chilling response from a federal court judge in Washington, D.C. who rejected his request to take a winter vacation in Jamaica with his girlfriend ahead of his trial for his role in the Jan 6 insurrection.
“Defendant, while on pretrial release and facing charges including a serious felony offense, stemming from his alleged actions on January 6, 2021, wishes to leave the Michigan winter to spend ten days in the warmer climes of Jamaica to meet the family of a woman with whom defendant has been in a committed relationship for ‘more than a year,'” Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell wrote in his ruling before shooting down Williams’ request, NBC News reports.
“Although such a meeting may be an important step in defendant’s personal relationship, defendant surrendered his entitlement to unfettered international travel when, also ‘more than a year’ ago, on December 30, 2020, he allegedly announced his intent to ‘Storm the Swamp,’ and one week later, on January 6, 2021, followed through by joining a mob at the Capitol,” the judge wrote.
The judge noted that Williams filed the request on the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol.
“This Court will not commemorate the one-year anniversary of this attack on the Capitol by granting defendant’s request for non-essential foreign travel when he is awaiting judgment for his actions on that day,” Howell concluded in the ruling.
Williams faces charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted building and the Capitol Building, as well as parading or demonstrating in a capitol building.
