NEW: J6 Prison’s Lawyer Drops Bomb, Says DOJ Lied, Withheld Evidence Against His Client

Albert Watkins, the attorney representing Jacob Chansley says the Department of Justice withheld the videos that were recently released by Tucker Carlson.

Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” gained widespread media attention for his distinctive appearance, which included a fur hat with horns, face paint, and tattoos. Chansley was arrested and charged with several crimes, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. In November 2021, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

His lawyer said, “We did not receive that video footage. We asked for it, and not just once or twice. Whether we asked for it or not is irrelevant because the government had an absolute, non-compromisible duty to disclose that video and they did not do so.”

“And all the while, they were actively representing to the court and the American people that Jake was a leader, leading the charge into the Capitol. They did not disclose that footage because it ran contrary to their rote narrative.”

If the Department of Justice (DOJ) did in fact withhold the videos, it killed Chansley’s defense and diminished any chance of a fair trial. It’s the DOJ’s responsibility to turn over any evidence that could be helpful to the defense, including video footage. By withholding potentially exculpatory footage, the DOJ would be violating Chansley’s due process rights.

“I’ve never seen anything so vile as what I’m seeing right now,” Watkins continued. “It’s a departure from a pretty high standard they’ve maintained for a long time. Anyone who needs to have belief in the integrity of our justice system, whether they’re a left-wing New England academic or a raging right-winger, needs to say that this is really wrong and f—ing it up for everyone.”

“Looking at the news, half of it is getting mad at Tucker,” Watkins expressed. “What the f— does Tucker have to do with any of this? Except that he was smart enough to get it in our faces.”

Without access to all the evidence, Chansley’s legal team was unable to mount a robust defense, which resulted in a guilty verdict and possible a longer sentence. Furthermore, if it’s discovered that the DOJ deliberately withheld evidence, it could raise serious questions about the integrity of the legal process and the fairness of Chansley’s trial, and the Department of Justice.

“It’s appalling,” he continued. “Whether you’re right-leaning, you like Tucker Carlson, you hate Tucker Carlson, is irrelevant. This is about putting a dagger in the heart of our justice system. And the person holding the dagger and thrusting it with all its might is our Department of Justice. This required collaboration from the top of the Justice Department right down to the Assistant U.S. Attorney lying to me, a fellow officer of the court, knowing I had a duty to put my client in the best position I could based on the evidence.”

Tucker Carlson released unseen footage of the January 6 riot earlier this week. The tape was given to him by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.