Jail Officials Held in Contempt for Treatment of Jan. 6 Defendant

Politics|Jail Officials Held successful Contempt for Treatment of Jan. 6 Defendant

A national justice held apical officials of the Washington, D.C., jailhouse successful contempt of tribunal connected Wednesday, ruling they had improperly delayed aesculapian attraction for a suspect being kept successful their custody successful transportation with the Jan. 6 attack connected the Capitol.

Calling the hold of attraction for the defendant, Christopher Worrell, “incompetent” and “inexcusable,” Judge Royce C. Lamberth of Federal District Court successful Washington said helium would besides notation the lawsuit to the Justice Department for a imaginable probe into whether Mr. Worrell’s civilian rights — and the rights of different jailed defendants — had been violated.

“Does nary 1 care?” Judge Lamberth asked the jailhouse officials and their lawyers astatine 1 point, describing their bungling of Mr. Worrell’s attraction arsenic “more than inept.”

Mr. Worrell, a subordinate of a Florida section of the Proud Boys, was denied bail and placed successful the jailhouse soon aft his apprehension successful March connected charges of assaulting a constabulary serviceman and obstructing Congress’s certification of the statesmanlike ballot connected Jan. 6. He has crab and is receiving chemotherapy, and aft going into custody, helium broke his wrist.

He was scheduled for country connected his wrist successful June, Judge Lamberth said astatine a proceeding connected Wednesday, but by September, the country had not taken spot and the justice ordered jailhouse officials to supply him with Mr. Worrell’s aesculapian records truthful that helium could see issuing a ceremonial bid requiring the procedure. The jailhouse officials delayed getting Judge Lamberth the records, prompting his aggravated outburst from the bench.

The civilian contempt uncovering does not transportation immoderate penalties similar jailhouse clip oregon a fine. The Justice Department and the D.C. Department of Corrections declined to remark connected the finding.

Lawyers for respective different of the astir 40 Jan. 6 defendants who are successful the D.C. jailhouse successful lieu of bail person raised complaints astir mistreatment. Some person argued that their clients person been denied due nutrient and entree to showers. Others person complained astir restrictions connected spiritual services. Jail officials person denied the accusations and said that the Capitol riot defendants are not being singled retired for punishment oregon mistreatment.

In his contempt finding, Judge Lamberth said helium had nary thought whether the delays successful Mr. Worrell’s aesculapian were connected to Jan. 6, but that helium was nevertheless infuriated by them.