'Sedition Panda' convicted of assaulting officer on Jan. 6 after judge calls defense argument 'absurd'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

May 24, 2024, 12:34 PM EDT


Jesse James Rumson wears a panda headpiece in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.U.S. District Court for D.C.



WASHINGTON — A Jan. 6 rioter dubbed "Sedition Panda" for the costume head he wore when he stormed the Capitol has been convicted on each of the eight charges he faced, including assaulting a police officer.

Jesse James Rumson was convicted Friday of assaulting Prince George’s County Cpl. Scott Ainsworth, a lifelong Republican who testified about the Jan. 6 riot during Rumson's trial last week.

Ainsworth testified that it was difficult to come to grips with being attacked by members of his own party. “I’m a Republican, these are my fellow Republicans,” he said, adding that some of the Republicans in his life now want nothing to do with him because of his service on Jan. 6, 2021. “Are you crazy?” Ainsworth recalled thinking of those in the GOP who support what happened on Jan. 6. “This was stupid, it was not necessary.”

Rumson opted for a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Donald Trump appointee who has been one of the most lenient judges for Jan. 6 defendants. Nichols is responsible for rejecting the obstruction of an official proceeding charge that has been used against hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, an issue which is now pending before the Supreme Court.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/sedition-panda-convicted-assaulting-officer-jan-6-judge-calls-defense-rcna153920

[captain queeg]

1. That reminds me, where are we with the obstruction of official proceedings with the SC?

If that gets thrown out are there some criminals who will walk, or do they all have other charges as well?

[BumRushDaShow]

2. They'll probably wait until near the end of the term to rule on that

and many of them have various other charges. I expect those who actually entered the Senate chamber and rifled around in there, are toast regardless.

From their latest (major) update - https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/39-months-since-the-jan-6-attack-on-the-capitol

Criminal charges:

Approximately 510 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including approximately 133 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted on Jan. 6 at the Capitol, including about 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Approximately 11 individuals have been arrested on a series of charges that relate to assaulting a member of the media, or destroying their equipment, on Jan. 6.

Approximately 1,334 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds. Of those, 127 defendants have been charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.

Approximately 79 defendants have been charged with destruction of government property, and approximately 62 defendants have been charged with theft of government property.

More than 355 defendants have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, or attempting to do so.

Approximately 57 defendants have been charged with conspiracy, either: (a) conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, (b) conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder, (c) conspiracy to injure an officer, or (d) some combination of the three.

[underpants]

3. Dumbass

[JoseBalow]

4. Awww...

[TomSlick]

5. The stupid is strong with this one.

[Evolve Dammit]

6. So I still wonder who orchestrated and funded the coup?? Crickets Mr. Garland.

Typical justice to roll up the easy, low hanging fruit. classic

[IronLionZion]

7. I love how ridiculous his defense was

he didn't know it was restricted area and accidentally rammed into police again and again repeatedly. Climbing through broken windows is a perfectly normal way to enter a building.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. "Climbing through broken windows is a perfectly normal way to enter a building."

'Cause the doors were all locked????

[IronLionZion]

10. Yeah, with police officers in the way

[Wonder Why]

9. It's a bad puppy who can't be trained! Governor Noem, help us stop this puppy!

[wolfie001]

11. So I guess he's also a "Furry"?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. He's also not

"your average bear".

[IronLionZion]

15. Traitor chose a Chinese panda instead of something American, like a Grizzly bear

[BumRushDaShow]

16. I know, right?

He must have thought of himself as Kung Fu Panda!

[question everything]

13. How was he identified?

[BumRushDaShow]

14. In the OP article

Rumson ended up in handcuffs inside the Capitol and lost his panda head and backpack, but was freed from his handcuffs by other members of the mob once he got outside.

While outside the building, Rumson yelled "get a ram!" as rioters smashed a window, video evidence at trial showed;

There's a pic under that section -


Jesse James Rumson grabs Corporal S.A.’s face shield with his right hand at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.U.S. District Court for D.C.


Another article had a pic from the FBI that was similar but included a split image showing him full frontal, carrying the costume head -


Credit: FBI

The Sedition Hunters have been finding and IDing a large number of these folks - https://seditionhunters.org/

[question everything]

18. Thanks. I missed this sentence

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Most welcome!

Those volunteers working on identifying people from videos and stills, have been absolutely stunning!

[republianmushroom]

17. Jesse your application to Fed. U. and the felon club has been approved an accepted.

You will be notified of the length of your stay at Fed U. Your felon club is a life membership. Enjoy.