Staffers for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” who police say were caught illegally entering a House Office Building without permission in June, nicknamed the “Colbert 9,” have had their “unlawful entry” charges dropped.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the charges against the individuals are being dropped because the suspects were invited into the building by Congressional staffers and were never asked to leave.
“After a comprehensive review of all of the evidence and the relevant legal authority, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has determined that it cannot move forward with misdemeanor charges of unlawful entry against the nine individuals who were arrested on June 16, 2022 at the Longworth Office Building,” the statement read.
Charges dropped against Stephen Colbert staffers who were arrested for unlawful entry in House office building https://t.co/bUT56NxmYc
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 18, 2022
“The individuals, who entered the building on two separate occasions, were invited by Congressional staffers to enter the building in each instance and were never asked to leave by the staffers who invited them,” the statement explained.
“Though, members of the group had been told at various points by the U.S. Capitol Police that they were supposed to have an escort,” the statement continued.
1) Prosecutors have dropped charges against the “Colbert 9” after the USCP arrested them for unlawful entry were caught recording comedy skits inside a House Office Building after hours without permission in June.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 18, 2022
“The Office would be required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these invited guests were guilty of the crime of unlawful entry because their escort chose to leave them unattended. We do not believe it is probable that the Office would be able to obtain and sustain convictions on these charges. The defendants no longer will be required to appear for a scheduled hearing in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on July 20, 2022.”
Some users online have pointed out that the news appears hypocritical when compared to the situation that some January 6 prisoners are currently facing, as reports and video evidence indicates that protestors were allowed to be inside the building by Capitol Police officers who opened the doors, as was noted by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) last week.
Valiant News reported last week that AOC suggested that law enforcement officers and “people on the inside” of the United States government assisted angry election integrity protestors in their effort to enter the Capitol building on January 6, adding that “footage and evidence” of such activity was suppressed.
Since the DOJ isn’t prosecuting Stephen Colbert’s crew for unlawfully entering the Capitol, then no J6er should be charged for this either.
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) July 18, 2022
“The Biden DOJ will not prosecute Steve Colbert‘s crew for the exact same crime Trump supporters have been bankrupted, thrown in solitary confinement, and prosecuted as terrorists,” tweeted one user.
“DOJ isn’t prosecuting Stephen Colbert’s crew for unlawfully entering the Capitol, the same crime as the J6’rs. I just got through e-mailing my Senators and Congressman. Will you do the same? FREE J6 PRISONERS NOW!!!” tweeted another.
The Biden DOJ will not prosecute Steve Colbert's crew for the exact same crime Trump supporters have been bankrupted, thrown in solitary confinement, and prosecuted as terrorists.
— thebradfordfile (@thebradfordfile) July 18, 2022
