Stan Woodward's Many Terrorist-Defending Hats - emptywheel

Kelly Meggs was convicted of seditious conspiracy and additional conspiracy charges, including 18 USC 372. Stan Woodward submitted a sentencing memo seeking only a few more months in prison. Judge Amit Mehta rejected the request and imposed a 12-year sentence that included a terrorism enhancement under 3A1.4, Note 4. The court found the conduct was calculated to influence or affect government action through intimidation or coercion, supported by jury findings of intended force and evidence of actual force. The court cited Meggs leading individuals into the building and toward the Speaker’s Suite, along with communications before and after the assault.

"I've already ruled that given the conviction for seditious conspiracy as well as, in Mr. Meggs' case, the 1512(k) conspiracy, it does meet the definition under 3A1.4, Note 4, for a terrorism departure. These are crimes and offenses - and the conduct bears it out - that was calculated to influence or affect the conduct of the government by intimidation or coercion; the finding by the jury of intended use of force; and then the evidence of actual use of force certainly establishes the requisite facts to meet that definition."

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