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.
BREAKING: Biden’s DOJ secures conviction against journalist over reporting on January 6https://t.co/O5gxt6kODo
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 18, 2023
"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 jury has returned a guilty verdict on my J6 charges:
• Entering or Remaining in a Restricted Area
• Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Area
• Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
• Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in the Capitol Building pic.twitter.com/zp0jaujYQ0— Stephen Horn (@stephenehorn) September 18, 2023
"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.
Analysis: Where independent journalism will land you in prison https://t.co/ZrgCE1Z3Oc
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 19, 2023
"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.
