Brandon Fellows, a participant in the January 6 Capitol riots, made headlines during his trial when he famously stated that he didn’t see anything wrong with his actions. Fellows, who represented himself in court, was convicted of one felony count of obstruction and four misdemeanors for his role in the riots.
During his opening statement, Fellows referred to January 6 as a “beautiful day” and expressed his satisfaction that members of Congress were afraid of the rioters. These remarks showcased his lack of remorse and disbelief in the severity of his actions.
The trial, which took place in August 2023, featured footage of Fellows smoking a joint with his legs on Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s desk on January 6, 2021. Fellows claimed that he didn’t know it was a senator’s desk and that it felt comfortable. He even went as far as asserting that the rioters had the right to overthrow the government.
In an attempt to garner sympathy, Fellows disclosed that he had Asperger’s syndrome and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. He considered himself to be high-functioning, drawing a parallel between himself and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whom he admires. Fellows also compared himself to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who faced allegations of sexual assault during his confirmation hearings.
Fellows pleaded with the court to view him as a human being despite their differences. He emphasized that he didn’t harbor hatred towards the Democratic party, but that his politics differed from theirs.
However, Justice Department attorney Carolina Nevin countered Fellows’ actions during the riots as “almost comedic.” The footage of him smoking weed and charging his phone at Merkley’s desk displayed a level of nonchalance that was concerning.
Judge Nevin stated that the photos from January 6 represented a sharp break in the nation’s democratic traditions. The peaceful transfer of power, a pillar of American democracy, was disrupted by the actions of the rioters.
Since the Capitol riots, the Justice Department has been actively pursuing justice. Over 1,100 people have been charged in connection with their actions on January 6, 2021, with at least 597 people already sentenced. The investigation is ongoing, and there are still approximately 321 individuals who assaulted officers that remain unidentified.
In Fellows’ case, he had been in custody since June 2021 and was ultimately sentenced to five months in jail. The trial and its outcome serve as a reminder of the gravity of the Capitol riots and the ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
The image of Brandon Fellows smoking a joint on Senator Merkley’s desk circulated on social media and was later used by government officials, further highlighting the audacity and brazenness of the actions that occurred on January 6.
