John Pierce – Attorney For 17 Capitol Riot Defendants – Finally Reemerges Following Mysterious Disappearance
Topline
Attorney John Pierce, who is representing 17 Capitol riot defendants, is reportedly back working his cases and appearing in virtual hearings after disappearing from view for weeks, and after his associate said he was “unresponsive” due to a coronavirus infection.
Defense Attorney John Pierce speaks during an extradition hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse in Lake … [+]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key Facts
Pierce appeared during a virtual court hearing for Alabama resident Stephanie Baez, telling the court he is “hanging in there” and can “100%… no question” represent Baez, according to the Huffington Post.
Pierce told NPR he will be returning to his cases after an “extremely chaotic” 12-day hospitalization that he said left his law firm with “no time to plan better,” also telling the outlet he has not been vaccinated for coronavirus and does not plan to do so.
Baez, who has been charged with unlawful entry and disorderly conduct after allegedly posting Instagram videos of herself inside the Capitol during the riot, said in the hearing she is “completely comfortable and very happy” with Pierce as her lawyer, according to the Post.
Key Background
Acting U.S. attorney Channing D. Phillips said in a court filing last month Pierce’s clients had been represented by an unlicensed associate of Pierce for a week, adding that there was “conflicting information” about Pierce’s health and location but that they had “no contact” with him. The associate told the court earlier that he believed Pierce was “on a ventilator” and “unresponsive.”
Tangent
Pierce gained notoriety for representing Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged with killing two people and wounding a third amid civil unrest in Wisconsin last year. Rittenhouse reportedly fired Pierce in February.
Further Reading
Go-to Lawyer for Capitol Riot Defendants Disappears (New York Times)
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