DOJ convicts journalist who was documenting riot on Jan. 6

By 
 September 20, 2023

 A journalist who was covering the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C., was found guilty of charges by a jury on Tuesday.

Stephen Horn was convicted of entering a restricted area and related charged over his reporting during the Jan. 6 events.

Horn's response

"I told the same truth to the jury that I posted along with my video on January 7th: 'I did not enter the capitol building as part of the protest, or for cheap thrills, but to accurately document and record a significant event which was taking place,'" he wrote.

"My sole motivation in entering Capitol Grounds and the Capitol itself was to document, record, and publish the newsworthy events that were occurring. Although we were obviously hoping for a different verdict, I believe we generally accomplished my goal of telling my story and laying out my case before the court," he told the Post Millennial.

The story

"Horn traveled to Washington for the rally of former President Trump in a bus of Trump supporters but has said he does not align with conservative politics, nor has he ever supported the former president," the Hill reported.

"Horn’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2024, and he faces up to a year in prison on his most serious charge," it added.

The problem

"Horn damaged no property on January 6, 2021. He did not fight with the police. He maintains he was there acting as a journalist. In fact, he contacted the FBI the very next day to share his video from the event to aid in the bureau’s investigations. He cooperated in every way," the Blaze reported.

"Nevertheless, the FBI arrested Horn on April 9, 2021. He was hauled before a Wake County magistrate in arm and leg chains on the same day, as though he were a violent felon," it added.

Horn has now set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his legal battle.

The independent journalist has become an example of the tensions now seen between reporting events and being blamed for a crime.

The sentencing in January could be up to a year or more as Horn continues to face the consequences of documenting the Capitol riots.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson
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