Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., desire a Maine man charged with assaulting law enforcement officials in the course of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot to show over greater than half the cash allies have raised on-line for his protection.
The U.S. Division of Justice on Thursday filed a movement asking a choose to order Kyle Fitzsimons to have $12,300 of the $20,215 raised on the GiveSendGo web site transferred to the federal government to assist pay for his court-appointed lawyer.
Fitzsimons, 38, allegedly needed the cash to make use of the cash to maintain up with funds on his truck.
A cousin of Fitzsimons’ created the fundraising account, in accordance with the movement filed in U.S. District Courtroom in Washington, D.C. A screenshot of the fundraiser included within the movement described Fitzsimons as “a political prisoner.” It allegedly was faraway from the location earlier this yr, between June 1 and 9, after 266 folks donated.
The cousin, not Fitzsimons, had entry to the funds. She has not spoken with him since June and isn’t answering his calls, in accordance with a telephone dialog recorded between Fitzsimons and his mom.
Fitzsimons has pleaded not responsible to 11 expenses associated to the violent protest he took half in two weeks earlier than the inauguration of President Joe Biden. His trial earlier than a choose is about to start Aug. 16.
He was the primary Mainer to be charged in reference to the Jan. 6 riot.
Fitzsimons is now considered one of 4 males with Maine ties of the almost 900 defendants who’ve been charged in what the Division of Justice is asking the “Capitol breach instances.” He’s the one defendant with ties to Maine who has been denied bail.
When he was arrested and charged in February 2021, Fitzsimons employed a staff of attorneys within the Washington, D.C., space. They withdrew from his case three months later and a federal defender out of Philadelphia was appointed to signify him after Fitzsimons certified as an indigent defendant.
“In impact, by offering Fitzsimons with free authorized illustration whereas he raises cash off his authorized jeopardy, the taxpayers are subsidizing Fitzsimons’ truck funds and different private bills,” the movement mentioned.
Taxpayers have funded Fitzsimons’ protection since Could 2021. The $12,300 requested is probably the most an indigent defendant will be ordered to pay, the movement mentioned.
It couldn’t be decided Friday whether or not Fitzsimons’ lawyer will object to the movement.
Till his arrest 18 months in the past, Fitzsimons labored as a butcher at a southern Maine grocery store. He was a part of a bunch that pressured its well beyond police and into the Capitol in an try to cease the certification of ends in the November 2020 presidential election, in accordance with court docket paperwork. He by no means made it inside however, carrying a butcher’s jacket and carrying an unstrung bow, he and others overcame officers in a police line.
Fitzsimons allegedly grabbed an officer’s shoulder and tried to tug him into the group. That brought about him to fall, and the officer struck Fitzsimons within the head a number of instances to free himself from the Maine man’s grip.
After being struck by a baton which brought about his head to bleed and run down his face, Fitzsimons moved and charged on the line of officers, in accordance with court docket paperwork. He allegedly grabbed an officer’s fuel masks and pulled it to the aspect earlier than one other particular person behind Fitzsimons lined the officer in pepper spray. Particulars concerning the alleged assault on a 3rd officer haven’t been launched.
On Monday, the primary defendant to go on trial for his function within the occasions of Jan. 6, Man Wesley Reffitt, 49, of Wylie, Texas, was sentenced to greater than seven years in jail.
Reffitt’s sentence is the longest imposed to date by a federal choose.
