Jan. 6 defendant claims he grabbed cop's gas mask to help officer 'see my hands'

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jan-6-defendant-claims-grabbed-cops-gas-mask-help-officer-see-hands-rcna26348


WASHINGTON — A former New York City cop facing felony charges for attacking a D.C. policeman during the Jan. 6 riot told jurors Thursday that he had grabbed the officer's gas mask to help him "see my hands."

Thomas Webster, a Marine Corps veteran who retired from the New York City Police Department after a 20-year career in law enforcement, spent several hours on the stand answering questions about why he swung a flagpole at an officer protecting the U.S. Capitol and why he grabbed that officer's gas mask while tackling him.

"I wanted him to see my hands, and I pushed against his gas mask," Webster, 56, told jurors.

The D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who Webster attacked, Noah Rathbun, testified this week that he struggled to breathe as Webster grabbed his gas mask, causing the strap to press against Rathbun's throat.

Webster is the fourth Jan. 6 defendant to have their case heard by a jury. Each of the prior defendants — Dustin Thompson, Thomas Robertson and Guy Reffitt — were found guilty on all counts.

*snip*

Being a cop, this jag off is totally fine with lying to a jury.

[gratuitous]

1. All it takes is on juror to buy this malarkey

I hope the prosecuting attorney spends the night working up questions to help Mr. Webster come up with a more plausible story, because the one he's peddling is preposterous.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. So, swinging a flagpole is OK, and the DC cop could see the hands of the guy who is trying to rip...

the mask off. Since the mask was choking him, it sounds like the mask is being ripped off from behind. Gas masks I wore could hardly be ripped off from behind, and choking would be a real hazard.

But, presumably this retired cop knew swinging flagpoles at cops is a no-no, as is pulling gas masks off. And tackling cops defending Federal properties.

But, he has to come up with something...