The lawyer for a New York court worker accused of making threats towards members of Congress and President Biden’s inauguration argued that his speech could border on comedy.
Defense attorney Jan Rostal said jurors needed to watch the video of Brendan Hunt allegedly threatening members of Congress and see how he “cracks up” laughing, the Associated Press reported.
One video Hunt posted was titled “KILL YOUR SENATORS” and had a summary that said, “Slaughter them all.”
The video was posted by Hunt on Jan. 8, two days after the Capitol riot, but he took it down after people told him online to “stop being an idiot.”
Hunt was arrested on Jan. 19 for allegedly making multiple threats towards Biden’s inauguration and Democratic politicians.
“He did something he shouldn’t have,” Rostal said.
The jurors can think he is “an idiot or clown” but it is still under his First Amendment right to say what he did, Rostal argued.
“We need to go back to the U.S. Capitol when all of the Senators and a lot of the Representatives are back there, and this time we have to show up with our guns. And we need to slaughter these motherf——,” Hunt said, according to the complaint. “If anybody has a gun, give me it, I’ll go there myself and shoot them and kill them.”
Prosecutors argued he was attempting to call people to violence against the inauguration after a pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Rostal said that Hunt’s shock during a police raid into his home showed he did not have any criminal intentions when he posted the video.
Hundreds of people have been arrested and will be put on trial for their actions on or related to the Capitol riot.