Federal prosecutors say Federico Klein violated his oath of office while participating in the domestic terrorist riot on January 6, arguing that he should be held pending trial. Klein, a Trump appointee for the US State Department, has been accused of beating officers with a stolen police riot badge and “hand-to-hand combat”. He had previously worked for the Trump campaign and volunteered with an anti-LGBTQ hate group, the Family Research Council.
A federal judge Tuesday afternoon appeared to agree, saying Klein swore an oath on the US Constitution and then “switched sides,” according to Vice News’ Greg Walters. Klein will reportedly remain detained because of a threat to the community. Previously, he complained about cockroaches in prison.
Federico Klein, the former Trump State Department appointee who was arrested last week for his role in the January 6 riot at the Capitol, is being held pending trial, a judge ruled today.
– Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) March 9, 2021
Federico Klein, the former Trump State Dept official, will remain in jail pending his trial for rioting at the Capitol.
The judge said Klein swore an oath to protect the constitution and then “switched sides”.
The judge said the release would pose a threat to the community.
– Greg Walters (@thegregwalters) March 9, 2021
In a written trial, prosecutors argued against Klein, the first Trump administration official known to have been arrested in connection with the riot.
“Despite his oath to support and defend the Constitution, Klein showed his contempt for that oath, the legitimate functions of government, and the Constitution itself when he attacked officials to stop the confirmation of a legitimate election,” the prosecutor wrote CNN reports in court. “With his actions on January 6, 2021, Klein gave up his responsibility to the country and the constitution.”
“Klein’s behavior has shown that his true allegiance lies elsewhere,” prosecutors also told the court, saying his “actions on January 6, 2021 seem like a deliberate decision to go above the law. He not only showed that he was unwilling to obey lawful instructions, but also showed an obvious disregard for his obligations to those responsible. “
The prosecutors also explain what Klein did in the Capitol on the day of the uprising.
Klwein, it says in the complaint, was involved in “hand-to-hand combat” and “made his way to the front of the mob to fight right outside the doors of the Capitol Building, where a line of officers had formed to close the entrance protect. ”
Federico Klein decided to put himself in the middle of the violence that aimed to break through the middle door on Lower West Terrace to gain access to the Capitol. He used physical violence against officers guarding the entrance, and his individual participation in the larger crowd increased the general violence and dangerousness of the day. Klein was one of the first rioters to step into the middle archway and try to break through the door. He entered the archway for the first time around 2:43 p.m. and was part of the mob within the tunnel combat officers. He stayed in the tunnel until about 3:21 p.m. when officers pushed the first wave of rioters out of the tunnel and back onto the terrace.
It is also claimed, “Klein used that [stolen police] Riot shield to attack the frontline officers by forcibly pushing the shield into their bodies. “
Here is an ABC News report from a few days ago:
CAPITOL RIOT ARREST: The FBI has arrested Federico Klein, one of the former presidents. Trump’s appointment to the US State Department for his alleged role in the deadly siege of the Capitol. @ DavidMuir reports. https://t.co/XXd1rRxW9I pic.twitter.com/78QFVS1ej9
– World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 6, 2021
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