by Art Lien | Nov 26, 2021 | Courtroom
Jacob Chansley, aka “QAnon Shaman”, the poster boy for the January 6 insurrection, was in court for sentencing last week. Judge Royce Lamberth listened patiently as Chansley rambled on at length quoting Gandhi, Jesus and Justice Clarence Thomas. He spoke about the pain he personally experienced while getting his tattoos, the movie “The Shawshank Redemption”, and looking in the mirror saying to himself, “You really messed up, royally”. At the conclusion Judge Lamberth thanked him for his remarkable comments . . . and gave him 41 months.
by Art Lien | Nov 26, 2021 | Courtroom
Old news, but here are my sketches of Steve Bannon’s first court appearance on Congressional Contempt charges last week. I couldn’t tell for sure how many shirts he was wearing but it was reported to be three. Such a repulsive slob, but fun to draw.
As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible. – W. Blake
by Art Lien | Jul 20, 2021 | Courtroom
Yesterday a Trump supporter from Florida, Paul Allard Hodgkins was the first defendant charged with a felony to be sentenced for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Judge Randolph Moss imposed a prison term of 8 months, less than the 18 months the government requested. Before sentence was imposed, Hodgkins addressed the judge telling him that he had stopped drinking, joined a church, gave blood, was doing community service and participating in a therapy program.
It also seems that Hodgkins is a cat lover. 
Last month another participant in the Capitol riot, 49-year-old grandmother Anna Morgan-Lloyd pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to probation.
Sentencing of Anna Morgan-Lloyd for her part in January 6 attack on US Capitol / judge Royce Lamberth
In what is being called the largest criminal investigation in US history over 500 people have been charged. And with tens of thousands of hours of video evidence these cases will drag on for a long time to come.
US District judge Amit Mehta holds hearing for dozen Oath Keepers
Proud Boy Charles Donohoe arraignment via zoom
Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean and Joe Biggs appear via zoom before US District judge Timothy J. Kelly
by Art Lien | Feb 21, 2020 | Courtroom
Roger Stone’s sentencing became big news when, last week, all four Justice Department lawyers who had prosecuted the case quit after their sentencing memorandum was withdrawn the day after Trump tweeted that it was unfair and too harsh. Attorney General Barr said there was no communication with the White House on the decision to intervene, and went so far as to protest (methinks too much?) that the president’s tweeting made it difficult for him to do his job. A new watered-down sentencing recommendation was produced, and signed by Assistant US Attorney John Crabb.
Asked by Judge Amy Berman Jackson whether he actually wrote the second filing, AUSA Crabb demurred saying, “I’m not at liberty to discuss the internal deliberations in DOJ.”
In the end Judge Jackson imposed a sentence of forty months, well below the seven to nine years initially recommended, but not before chastising at length both Stone and the Department of Justice.
by Art Lien | Nov 14, 2019 | Courtroom
After just six days of testimony and closing arguments the fate of Roger Stone is in the hands of the jury this morning. It was an unusual trial from the start, but who would expect anything less when the defendant has a reputation for political dirty tricks going as far back as Watergate. He famously has the image of Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, after all. Nevertheless, in spite of a courtroom full of kooks, the trial progressed in an orderly and efficient manner. I wasn’t there every day, and unfortunately missed most of the witnesses’ testimony. Politico has a good story on the trial here.
by Art Lien | Sep 18, 2019 | Courtroom
Last Friday actress Felicity Huffman was sentenced to two weeks in prison, a $300,000. fine, and 250 hours of community service for paying to inflate her daughter’s SAT score.
Courtroom sketching is a form of visual journalism or reportage drawing that is slowly dying out. Where once upon a time news organization each had their own artist covering a story, today a “pool” artist often sketches for all. It is a demanding and stressful discipline where the drawing is often done directly and under tight deadline.
After forty-five years of news sketching in courtrooms and congress I’m calling it quits. It’s been sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating, almost always interesting. I’ve been lucky to work with some really great people. Don’t think I’ll miss it, but a little scared of not having a deadline.
While I won’t be sketching in court anymore, I may continue to post to this blog from time to time. Not sure what that might be. I’m about to start a new assignment documenting infrastructure and construction. Could be interesting.
