Judge Goes Beyond the Law in Restricting Her Free Speech and imposing $103,000 fine and confiscating donations to her legal defense fund
by Raheem Kassam, The National Pulse.com, Augurst 13, 2024
Rebecca Lavrenz, known as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” has been sentenced to 12 months of probation, including six months of house arrest, and ordered to pay the largest misdemeanor fine in U.S. history for her involvement in the January 6th Capitol protests, The National Pulse can report.
Lavrenz, 72, was found guilty of four federal misdemeanor charges related to her participation in the protest against the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, which amounted to walking into an open door at the U.S. Capitol and praying in the tourist areas.
In his sentencing memo, Biden-Harris U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves opined that because Lavrenz had pointed out the political persecution of J6ers, she should be considered “unrepentant” in her “promotion of the riot.” That, Graves laughably claims, “is powerful evidence that she continues to pose a threat to future acts of political violence.”
A Muslim U.S. District Court Judge overseeing the case, Zia Faruqui, handed down a $103,000 fine, believed to be one of, if not the largest ever imposed for a misdemeanor charge in U.S. history. In addition to the fine, Lavrenz was ordered to pay $500 in restitution and banned from using the internet for six months. This restriction, typically reserved for cases involving child pornography, has raised concerns about its appropriateness, especially given the proximity to the upcoming presidential election.
At her sentencing, Lavrenz told the judge, “While I respect you, I answer to a higher judge.” Her defense team argued that the internet ban, which prevents her from managing her Bed & Breakfast business, checking her email, or accessing online banking, would severely impact her livelihood. Despite these concerns, the judge justified the restriction necessary to prevent the spread of “inflammatory material” online, particularly in the lead-up to the election – effectively an admission of election interference by a U.S. judge.
Faruqui also ordered Lavrenz to submit to government monitoring software on her computer and mobile phone, further limiting her digital freedom. Additionally, she will not be allowed to meet with her Congressman or Senator at the Capitol without the permission of her Probation Officer, adding another layer of restriction to her sentence.
During the hearing, the judge made several pointed remarks, questioning Lavrenz’s priorities and expressing skepticism about her faith.
“I don’t know why being the J6 Praying Grandmother is more important than being an actual grandmother,” Faruqui said. He also criticized her involvement in what he described as a misguided ministry, stating, “Your faith is being misplaced right now” and suggesting that her ministry to strangers was less important than her obligations to her family.
The judge’s comments also extended to the financial support Lavrenz received for her legal defense, which he ordered to be confiscated. He claimed the funds were inappropriately raised, stating, “There is a wellspring of money that you have that I don’t believe is appropriate for you to have.”
Bizarrely, Judge Faruqui is also believed to have remarked, “You went in to try to find Congresspeople to find them and confront them. That’s unacceptable. You can’t do that. Nobody can do that. The way to do that is through our legal system. To go to court.”
Speaking exclusively to The National Pulse, Lavrenz’s lawyer John M. Pierce of the National Constitutional Law Union (NCLU) said: “We are pleased that Rebecca Lavrenz got no jail time. However, we believe the fine was one of the largest in American history for a misdemeanor case. This will make it very difficult for her to be able to vigorously pursue her appeal without a tremendous amount of help from donors.
“In addition, the 6-month internet restriction is unprecedented. We feel this is an unconstitutional restriction on her ability to speak about the 2024 election. It also severely limits her ability to fundraise to help pay for her appeal. This is yet another dark reminder of the two-tier system of justice that is eroding the very foundations of our Constitutional republic. The ‘Praying Grandma’ Rebecca Lavrenz is the finest our nation has to offer. We will fight for her and her beliefs to the very end.”
People can still donate to Lavrenz for her appeal at this link.
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