Judges increasingly warn 'conspiracy theory rabbit holes' threaten 2024 violence: report

Prosecutors and judges are increasingly warning about the potential for violence as people continue to go down "conspiracy theory rabbit holes" during the 2024 election cycle, CBS News reported.

During the sentencing hearing for Jan. 6 rioters Jamie and Jennifer Buteau in Florida last week, Judge Randolph Moss read a letter from the couple's daughter that pleaded for leniency, blaming the "rabbit holes" and the "constant IV drip of lies, misinformation" for radicalizing a couple that, previously, had not been political.

The letter warned that it was a phenomenon that was affecting many. The judge agreed, saying he couldn't think of an event, "other than the Civil War, that has driven people apart as much."

The same day, during arguments regarding the gag order issued in Donald Trump's Jan. 6 federal case, appeals court Judge Bradley Garcia warned about the link between Trump's social media posts and the potential for political harassment and threats.

"As this trial approaches, the atmosphere is going to be increasingly tense," Garcia said.

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In a sentencing memo filed last month, Justice Department prosecutors said the, "Passions that ignited the January 6 riot have not cooled since then," and that "an upward variance would also support the need for 'adequate deterrence.'"

In another case filing, prosecutors said: "One in five Americans believes political violence would be 'at least sometimes' justified, and one in 10 believes it would be justified if it meant the return of President Trump," CBS reported.

"Left unchecked, this impulse threatens our democracy. The defendants in this case sought to capitalize on this undercurrent in our society to change the result of a presidential election."

At the sentencing for a Jan. 6 defendant from Florida, Judge Tanya Chutkan said, "Every day we're hearing about reports of anti-democratic factions of people plotting violence, the potential threat of violence, in 2024."

Read more at CBS News.