(PatriotWise.com) — A January 6 defendant arraigned on Monday interrupted the hearing to predict that he would be cleared of the charges against him after Donald Trump becomes president.
John Banuelos of Summit, Illinois, who is accused of climbing a scaffolding outside of the US Capitol on January 6 and firing a handgun, repeatedly disrupted his arraignment before US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to denounce the District of Columbia, criticize his court-appointed attorney, and hurl obscenities during his exchanges with the judge.
When Judge Chutkan warned Banuelos about his behavior in court, the defendant told her that in six months, Donald Trump would be in office and he would have “nothing to worry about.”
Chutkan again warned Banuelos to be careful about his public comments in the hearing.
According to the Justice Department, during the January 6 riot, the 39-year-old Banuelos was seen on open-source video footage climbing the scaffolding set up for Joe Biden’s January 20 inauguration.
Prosecutors allege that Banuelos was in the West Plaza, where he joined the crowd that breached the police line along the south side. He then climbed the stage scaffolding and waved to the crowd before pulling out his handgun and firing two shots into the air. Banuelos then put his handgun back into his waistband and climbed down.
The allegations against Banuelos contradict the claim by some Trump supporters that none of the rioters were armed.
Banuelos is facing multiple charges, including felony civil disorder, entering a restricted area with a deadly weapon, carrying a firearm in or around the Capitol buildings, and discharging a firearm at the Capitol.
In between angry outbursts by his client, Banuelos’ attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
The defendant criticized his attorney as a “public pretender” and told the judge, “They’re f*cking with me.”
Banuelos also demanded to know why he was being transferred to a Washington, D.C., detention facility, telling the judge that he feared for his life in Washington.
The judge explained that the magistrate ordered the transfer after determining that Banuelos posed a flight risk or a risk to public safety.
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