Judge Holds DC Jail Officials in Contempt of Courtroom Over Alleged Failure to Medically Treat January 6 Defendant
DOJ ordered in order to conduct civil rights investigation into abuses of 1/6 political prisoners
Two DC jail officials have been evaluated in contempt of courtroom over failure to provide medical records for January 6 defendant Christopher Worrell.
The case is being referred to the DOJ to look for a pattern of civil rights abuses.
In a Wednesday early morning ruling, US Judge Royce Lamberth found jail warden Wanda Patten and DC Department of Corrections Movie director Quincy Booth in contempt of court over their treatment of Worrell and known the matter to the Department of Justice with orders to conduct a civil legal rights investigation into how popular treatment like Worrell’s has been.
“ Really clear to me that the civil rights of the defendant had been violated by the DC Department of Corrections, ” the particular judge said during the listening to. “ I don’t know whether it’s because he’s a January 6 defendant or not, yet I find this matter should be referred to the attorney general of the United States for a civil rights investigation. ”
While he did not specifically impose punishment in the pair, he found that they had dragged their feet and caused “ inexcusable” delay in handing over records required to approve an operation Worrell needed.
Worrell was not able to receive treatment for their non-Hodgkins lymphoma and possible Covid-19 at the DC jail, according to his lawyers. Worrell also reportedly has a cracked tooth and a broken hand, having sustained the latter injury in jail.
After Worrell broke his hand while imprisoned in May, doctors suggested he have surgery; rather, according to his lawyers, he or she was merely given Tylenol and other over-the-counter pain medications for months. The correction officers’ failure to turn over Worrell’s health records amounts in order to “ more than just inept and bureaucratic jostling of papers, ” Lamberth said.
A member of right-wing ‘ western chauvinist’ corporation the Proud Boys, Worrell was arrested at their home in March and it is being held for apparently pepper-spraying police officers during the Capitol riot. Worrell denies really entering the Capitol, but he has been hit with serious federal charges, including for carrying a ‘ dangerous weapon’ (pepper spray) and knowingly entering a restricted area (the Capitol steps).
Judge Lamberth had previously terminated Worrell’s claims of ill treatment as “ with out merit, ” arguing the particular defendant had indeed already been receiving “ attentive medical care” for his conditions while in custody. A three-judge appellate court panel considered him unfit for release at the time, citing the violent nature of his offense.
Worrell is hardly the first participant in the January 6 demonstration to complain about inhumane conditions at the DC prison. Complaints ranging from assault to a dearth of toenail clippers have surfaced among those nevertheless imprisoned.
Over 630 people have been charged for their alleged involvement within the events of January six, and dozens still stay in jail.
Unvaccinated Australians are now criminals in their very own country.
