There is a never ending well of delusions, stupidity, and criminality that Jan 6th insurrectionists demonstrate during their plea deals and sentencing, but I continue to be surprised by how “inventive” some are with their defense efforts. The latest is Anthony Vuksanaj of New York. Vuksanaj plead guilty to “Parading, Demonstrating, Or Picketing in a Capitol Building,” but Vuksanaj continued to interrupt the judge during his sentencing with lies about his actions on Jan 6th.
Here is the exchange Vuksanaj had with Judge Berryl Howell:
Although Vuksanaj was not accused of engaging in violence himself during the Capitol riot, pictures and video show that he was at the front of a crowd that was forced back by officers. Prosecutors also said that he joined the crowd in chanting slogans like “Whose house? Our house,” “You serve us,” and calling out the names of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
In court on Friday, Vuksanaj denied chanting those slogans, and said that what he saw at the Capitol was a peaceful protest. He was so insistent on this point that he interrupted Howell repeatedly as she was issuing her sentence.
“No one was trying to do that,” he said as Howell described the riots as an effort to overthrow the government by blocking the peaceful transition of power.
“I saw the videos,” Howell replied.
Vuksanaj insisted that he didn’t see violence when he was at the Capitol.
“You’re not helping yourself,” Howell warned.
“The police let us in, they let us in,” Vuksanaj repeated. “How are we in trouble when the police let us in? I don’t get it.”
I would think that Vuksanaj’s actions during the sentencing would violate his plea deal. My legalese isn’t that great, but Vuksanaj was supposed to agree to the factual statements of his crime. But Vuksanaj is lying his ass off about the cops letting him into the Capitol Building, there being no violence, and he didn’t chant with the other insurrectionists.
Judge Howell sentenced Vuksanaj to an intermittent jail sentence of 42 days and three years probation.
Frankly, he got off lightly. And I do not say that because he was mouthing off to the judge. The bastard has had eight convictions for various other crimes since 1992! And he only got probation or fines for all those other convictions. And the judge noted that previous probations had done NOTHING to change Vuksanaj’s behavior.
By the way, it appears that Vuksanaj was also claiming he has been permanently disabled since 2011. However, he could drive the 10 hours round trip from New York, and he was more than mobil enough to get around during the rioting. In fact, there is video evidence of Vuksanaj’s crimes on Jan 6th on his cell phone.
This lead Judge Howell to do the following:
Howell also expressed skepticism about Vuksanaj’s claim that he was permanently disabled from a 2011 car accident.
“I have to say, he doesn’t look permanently disabled to me,” Howell said. “Not given his five-hour drive to and from his home to Washington, D.C., standing and watching this rally, walking two miles to the Capitol, walking all the way through the Capitol[.]”
“That’s not a man who looks permanently disabled. He had great mobility,” Howell added. She urged prosecutor Alison Prout to refer Vuksanaj’s disability case to the Social Security Administration, which has apparently been sending Vuksanaj monthly payments for a decade.
I hope they do revoke his disability claim. I cannot tell you how damn difficult it is for people who have legitimate claims of disability to get classified as disabled by the Social Security Administration. My Dad was disabled, and they put him through hell to get on disability.
Vuksanaj did not get the sentence he so richly deserves.
Monday, May 2, 2022 · 10:39:13 PM +00:00 · Merlin196357
A number of people in the comments section are taking issue with my doubts of Vuksanaj’s disability. Yes, I have had two family members on disability, and you cannot tell by visual cues whether someone is disabled. And people have been saying I am just assuming that Vuksanaj is not disabled.
Here is what Vuksanaj said himself during the sentencing with regards to his disability:
As for the questions about his need for Social Security funding?
“You might not think I’m disabled, it is what it is,” he quipped.
Vuksanaj didn't even try to explain to the judge what disability he has. Instead, he gave the comment, “You might not think that I am disabled, but it is what it is.” What kind of answer is that? A judge is telling prosecutors to report Vuksanaj to SSA, and all he can say is that non-answer.
Given his criminal background and his answer to the judge, I think it was reasonable for me to conclude that Vuksanaj was lying. He lied about what happened during Jan 6th. And he has a criminal background. But I am supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt that he is disabled?