United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Tanya Chutkan on Monday drew a sharp contrast with one of her Trump-appointed colleagues.
Politico reports that Chutkan rejected claims made last week by fellow D.C. Judge Trevor McFadden, who last week said that accused Capitol rioters are being subjected to worse treatment than rioters who were arrested last summer while taking part in Black Lives Matter protests.
"Some have compared what took place on Jan. 6 with other protests that took place throughout the country through the past year and have suggested that the Capitol rioters are being treated unfairly," she said during a sentencing hearing. "I flatly disagree."
Chutkan then expanded on her reasoning for rejecting the comparison.
"What happened... was nothing less than a violent mob trying to prevent the orderly, peaceful transfer of power as part of an election," she said. "That mob was trying to overthrow the government... That is no mere protest."
McFadden last week criticized the Capitol rioters for trying to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election, but he alleged there was a disparity in how they were treated compared to people who have committed similar offenses.
"I think the U.S. attorney would have more credibility if it was even-handed in its concern about riots and mobs in this city," he said.