Mr Arbeit macht frei
Wednesday’s news but still worth noticing.
A man who wore a “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt during last week’s insurrection at the Capitol was arrested by US Marshals in Virginia on Wednesday.
Robert Keith Packer, 56, was booked into Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk on federal felony charges.
Multiple internet sleuths — including former colleagues and neighbors — had identified Packer in recent days after photos of him wearing the white supremacist sweatshirt went viral.
He wore it around town too, so lots of those neighbors were able to recognize him.
Caught, and released again.
Released pending trial, that is.
And another.
True, that. I’d have hoped they might hang on to these guys until after the inauguration, at least.
That sweatshirt apparently said ‘Staff’ on the back. Really nice guy. We should definitely play nice and appease him.
Should he be found guilty and sent to prison, perhaps he could find himself put on a freedom-generating work detail, maybe something outdoorsy with flashy anklewear. Gotta get busy making that freedom!
I believe they are being released out of concern for covid and confined spaces. I wonder if black people charged with similar things – violent insurrection – are also afforded that concern?
Under federal law, there is generally a presumption that defendants are to be released from custody pending trial. Popehat has an explanatory thread beginning here.
Note, too, that most of the charges levied so far against most of these suspects are relatively mild, like in the case of Packer in the post. They’re not, for the most part, being charged with sedition or attempted murder or similar crimes — yet. (I suspect you’ll see some superseding indictments/informations/etc. in the coming weeks and months.)
I’m not suggesting that the federal bail system treats everyone equally — few if any of our systems do — but locking people up before trial is supposed to be the exception, not the rule.
If he wore this round the town, didn’t anyone ever punch him? It’s vile.
Thank you Screechy, that’s what I was thinking but I wasn’t sure of the facts, also given pause by the ruthless way black/poor people are reportedly made to rot in jail because they can’t make bail.
Remember, that’s federal law. I suspect that most states have less enlightened laws than the federal Bail Reform Act, though that may be changing. Not my area, though, so I’m entirely reliant on what actual subject matter experts say.
Rob: Come on! We need to unite! We need to reach out to Cletus and Rufus of Weeping Mine Sore, PA. THEY need not change or educate themselves or show any empathy in any way. WE must compromise with them!
Surely what they need now is a HARD slap on the wrist and a stern lecture to bring home to them in words they can understand WHAT NAUGHTY BOYS THEY HAVE BEEN and why they must NEVER DO IT AGAIN..!