An Open Letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
Dear Mr. Speaker:
Re: Attacks on the First Amendment with the Unconstitutional Imprisonment of Owen Shroyer as America’s First “Thought Crime” Journalist Prisoner and J6 Defendants being held in the DC Gulag
Congratulations and welcome to a new life adventure as you step into a high profile role as third in line to the Presidency, a role that brings the utmost responsibility to resuscitate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights which have been cast aside and recklessly abandoned by the current Administration.
As you are probably aware, millions of Americans are hopeful for your success especially as the country is foundering in its most severe crisis ever experienced, economically and militarily; one that defies any expectation of what the future may hold.
In the interests of restoring some hope that our country is still the vibrant Republic that most of us grew up with and as a Constitutionally designated officer for the Country, it would be helpful if you might offer a public clarification for all Americans to have a better understanding as to the extent of your legal and moral authority as Speaker.
In that regard, i would like to bring to your attention the recent imprisonment of Owen Shroyer who has been a news editor and journalist on Infowars.com. Owen was sentenced to two months in the DC Gulag on one Misdemeanor count of entering and remaining on restricted grounds during the January 6th event although he never entered the Capitol. His sentencing also included one year of unprecedented supervised probation.
In August 2021, the DOJ filed a Criminal Complaint asserting that Owen “spread election disinformation” in the months leading up to the Capitol attack as US District Court Judge Timothy Kelly identified many factors in his sentencing decision that Owen “played a role in amping up crowds.” Shroyer had previously asked the judge to drop the four misdemeanor charges he was facing for his attendance at the Capitol. Kelly denied the motion and Shroyer would eventually plead guilty.
In its September, 2023 Sentencing Memorandum, the DOJ further claimed that Owen ‘spread election disinformation paired with violent rhetoric to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of viewers” and as Judge Kelly told Shroyer during sentencing, “You kind of stand out as a unique case,” and told him he was “not nearly just a trespasser,” on January 6. In other words, it is extraordinary to be sentencing a First Amendment protected journalist to time in jail.
As the country’s first “thought criminal” and journalist to be formally imprisoned, Owen will be incommunicado from his family, his attorney, his friends and supporters who are very concerned about his well being during these two months. His imprisonment is an egregious First Amendment violation to all that most of us hold sacred and honorable.
In addition, you are aware that millions of Americans are in hopeful anticipation that the immediate release of the J6 video will be ordered as soon as possible. As you are aware, there are hundreds of incarcerated Americans whose only crime was to be at the Capitol on January 6th and who walk into the Capitol without any intent or evidence of violence or destruction. Release of and the follow-up scrutiny will help resolve many outstanding questions as to the full extent of alleged law enforcement participation, encouragement and initiating events on January 6th that may lead to a new round of legal challenges on the sentencing and imprisonment.
Adjacent to the above issues, is the cabal of unconstitutional degenerate legalists posing as Constitutionally-minded professional attorneys representing an independent judiciary at the Federal District Court in DC is an alarming indication of the broken, malfunctioning state of the country’s tainted and partisan judiciary.
Many thanks for your attention, Mr. Speaker. Whatever I can do to assist and help your efforts…don ’t hesitate.
Owen’s defense fund can be reached at DefendOwen.com.