Ex-FBI Jan. 6 defendant complains 'politically charged environment' prevents fair trial

A January 6 defendant is complaining to court that it would be unfair to put him on trial before the 2024 election can be held, CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reported on Monday.

Postponing the trial of Jared Wise until January 2025 "would ensure the trial goes forward without a monumental election hanging in the balance," his legal team claimed.

"Given the likelihood that we won't know the results of the election the week of November 4, having trial in January is the prudent option, especially on January 7, when it will hopefully be clear that we won't have a repeat of January 6, 2021."

The filing went on to raise concerns about the "politically charged environment" and "increased news and media focus on issues surrounding President Trump's candidacy" as reasons why Wise might not be able to get a fair trial earlier than that.

Wise, a former FBI agent living in Oregon, was arrested last year on six charges related to the pro-Trump insurrection at the Capitol, including trespassing and disorderly conduct.

According to prosecutors, Wise touted his status as a former FBI agent while in the crowd and verbally attacked the police trying to defend against the violent onslaught of people trying to force their way into the Capitol to disrupt the electoral count, at one point even calling for them to be killed.

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"I’m former law enforcement," he allegedly shouted at police. "You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can’t see it ... Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you! ... Yeah, f--- them! Yeah, kill ‘em! Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!”

Some 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the January 6 attack. Most were charged with misdemeanor offenses similar to Wise, but a handful were convicted of assaulting police or, in the case of the leaders of far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, seditious conspiracy.