Capitol riot suspect from Newburgh asks judge to release him after eight months in jail [View all]
A Newburgh man charged with attacking police in a pro-Trump mob at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 has asked a federal judge to release him from jail or at least let him have a laptop in his cell to help his lawyers defend him.
Edward Lang, a 26-year-old Sullivan County native arrested at his Newburgh apartment in January, is accused of fighting for almost two and a half hours with besieged officers defending a Capitol entrance against the rioters. Photos of Lang in court papers show him swinging an aluminum baseball bat at police while wearing a gas mask and holding a police riot shield that he commandeered.
Most of the more than 570 people charged with participating in the rampage have been released by judges while their cases are pending. Lang has remained in custody for eight months because of the seriousness of the 11 charges against him, which include assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.
In a 27-page brief filed this week, Lang's lawyers argue that he should be released from the Washington, D.C., jail because he poses no public danger or flight risk and has been unable to meet privately with them to prepare his defense. They also claim the jail staff has unfairly put him in solitary confinement for long periods and abused him.
"Lang's physical abuse includes being dragged, shoved, denied regular shower access, and getting an entire can of mace in his face, while standing inside of (his) cell with photos and a bible in his hand," attorneys Martin Tankleff and Steven Metcalf wrote.
Read more: https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/Capitol-riot-suspect-asks-judge-to-be-released-16422129.php
Keep him locked up. His actions on January 6 and his statements afterwards indicate that he remains a risk to the public.
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