Lawyer for 17 Jan. 6 defendants says he’s been released from hospital

An attorney for 17 people accused of being part of the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 said Wednesday that he’s been released from the hospital.

In a court document, John Pierce said he was hospitalized for 12 days before being released on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Pierce said that while he is doing well, he is not allowed to resume a full-time schedule or participate in court hearings until next Monday, Sept. 13. He said he expects to be “fully operational next week.”

“I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the court, my clients and counsel for their patience during this time. I also am deeply grateful for the amazing care I received from the doctors, nurses and staff who cared for me,” Pierce said.

Pierce didn’t explain in his letter why he was hospitalized.

Pierce had been missing from several court appearances late last month. Prosecutors said last Monday that the attorney was reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19, and was on a ventilator.

One of Pierce’s associates, Ryan Marshall, had been filling in for Pierce while he was out. But Marshall is not licensed attorney, meaning that all of Pierce’s cases were effectively at a standstill.

In the letter, Pierce said Marshall “clearly did an incredible job under immensely difficult circumstances with the limited information he had at the time.”

He also took issue with the way prosecutors characterized Marshall’s court appearances.

“I believe Mr. Marshall acted appropriately in explaining to the courts my absence and in ensuring that Pierce Bainbridge’s clients’ interests were fully protected at all times,” Pierce said. 

Based in Los Angeles, Pierce represents some of the more high-profile alleged Capitol rioters.

Tuesday’s filing, for instance, was made in the case of Alan Hostetter, one of six members of the right-wing militia group the Three Percenters who were charged with conspiring to attack the U.S. Capitol. Hostetter was reportedly seen with prominent Trump ally Roger Stone the day before the rally.