A Capitol riot suspect has pleaded with a judge to free him, claiming he was duped by internet conspiracy theorists into travelling to Was...
A Capitol riot suspect has pleaded with a judge to free him, claiming he was duped by internet conspiracy theorists into travelling to Washington on January 6.
Douglas Jensen, 41, of Des Moines, Iowa, told the court on Monday he felt 'deceived, recognizing that he bought into a pack of lies'.
He claimed he was 'a victim of numerous conspiracy theories that were being fed to him over the internet by a number of very clever people, who were uniquely equipped with slight, if any, moral or social consciousness.'
Jensen was seen sporting a QAnon shirt as he led a violent mob that was filmed chasing black Capitol officer Eugene Goodman up a flight of stairs on January 6.
In a document filed by his attorney Christopher Davis on Monday, Jensen acknowledged he was in front of a crowd but argued he did that 'for the now disclosed silly reason' to show his QAnon shirt to get it recognized.
Douglas Jensen, 41, has pleaded with a judge to free him, claiming he was duped by internet conspiracy theorists into travelling to Washington on January 6
He was detained without bond in Polk County Jail on January 9 after turning himself in. He was charged with five offences, including counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct
He was detained without bond in Polk County Jail on January 9 after turning himself in. He was charged with five offenses, including counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Vidoes posted on TikTok in January under the username @dougjensen, showed a man who appears to be Jensen suggests he's being made a 'poster boy' for what happened and ends by saying, 'Don't believe the news.'
Separate footage of rioters storming the Capitol showed a Jensen pursuing a Black officer up an interior flight of stairs as a mob of people trails several steps behind.
At several points, the officer says 'get back,' to no avail.
In this still, provided by HuffPost, shows Douglas Jensen chasing Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman outside the Senate chamber on January 6
Douglas Jensen was seen leading an angry mob of protesters as they chased officer Eugene Goodman up the stairs in the Capitol on January 6
Attorney Davis told the court Jensen believed he was a 'true patriot' for going to Washington at the urging of Donald Trump. He said his intention was to only observe.
Davis said in the document that Jensen was not part of any mob and simply went to Washington to watch.
Davis claimed Jensen neither threatened physical harm to anyone nor destroyed property and was carrying his work pocketknife with him for protection.
Jensen is scheduled to appear at an arraignment on Tuesday before a federal judge in Washington.
Douglas Jensen was pictured (center) inside the Capitol building on January 6. His attorney has claimed he neither threatened physical harm to anyone nor destroyed property
In February, federal prosecutors upgraded the charges filed against him to include entering a restricted building with a dangerous weapon and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon.
Other counts include civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting or impeding officers, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing a Capitol building.
Obstructing an official proceeding carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Jensen was arrested and jailed in Des Moines two days after he returned home from Washington and saw images of himself in television coverage.
Hundreds of pro-Trump supporters gathered in front of the Capitol on January 6 before storming building
Protesters swarmed the Capitol on January 6, breaching the building and making it into the Senate
Douglas Jensen said he was a 'victim' of conspiracy theories fed to him by 'very clever people' (pictured, QAnon shaman Jack Angeli outside the Senate Chamber in the Capitol on January 6)
He was ordered by a judge to be transferred from Iowa to Washington to be held on the charges.
Court records suggest Jensen may be working toward a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.
The court document describes Jensen as the product of a dysfunctional childhood and said he doesn't fully understand the reasons he was pulled into the QAnon conspiracy.
It speculates he could have been influenced by a mid-life crisis, the pandemic, 'or perhaps the message just seemed to elevate him from his ordinary life to an exalted status with an honorable goal.'
His love and concern for his family was a 'wakeup call that ended his victimization,' Davis said in the court filing.
He asked for Jensen to be released to get his affairs in order. He said Jensen's wife is willing to drive him home to Des Moines, where he would remain under house arrest.
No comments