During a plea hearing on Wednesday, a federal judge tore into MAGA rioter Karl Dresch, of Calumet, Michigan, blasting him for his role in the violent attack don’t the US Capitol, while slamming former President Donald Trump as a liar.
Dresch, 40, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor count of willfully and knowingly parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building as part of an agreement with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid additional jail time —but not before being slammed by the judge— reported The Detroit News.
“We’re not here today because he supported the former president,” said D.C. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson. “Millions of people voted for him and did not heed his call to descend on the nation’s Capitol. He was arrested because he was an enthusiastic participant in an effort to subvert and undo the electoral process.”
“Your vote doesn’t count any more than anyone else’s,” Berman Jackson said. “You don’t get to cancel them out. Patriotism means loyalty to country … not to single head of state”
“At the end of the day,” the judge added, “the fact is that the defendant came to the Capitol because he placed his trust in someone who repaid that trust by lying to him.”
Dresch received six months in prison, which was credited as time he’s already served in jail awaiting trial, and $500 in restitution for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Four other counts in the indictment against him, including obstructing an official proceeding and entering or remaining on restricted grounds, were dismissed.
Dresch went inside the Capitol for about 25 minutes and posted Facebook photos of himself in the building, and referred to former vice president Mike Pence as a traitor, compared the insurrection to July 4, 1776, and vowed to “be back stronger.”
#CapitolRiot: We start off today with a plea hearing for Karl Dresch, of Calumet, Michigan. The DOJ says Dresch posted photos of himself inside the Capitol with the caption, "We the people took back our house… now those traitors know who's really in charge." @wusa9 @EricFlackTV pic.twitter.com/4gxXGeROYU
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) August 4, 2021
#CapitolRiot: Judge Amy B. Jackson says Karl Dresch is not a political prisoner: “He was not placed in jail because of his political views… he was an enthusiastic participant in an effort to subvert the electoral process." @wusa9 @EricFlackTV pic.twitter.com/FY0cXJUMP1
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) August 4, 2021
#CapitolRiot: After assuring he understands what's happening and what rights he's giving up, Judge Amy Berman Jackson asks Karl Dresch what plea he would like to enter today.
"A plea of guilty, your honor," Dresch says. @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) August 4, 2021
