No charges for 'Late Show' crew arrested on Capitol Hill
Source: AP
By MICHAEL BALSAMO
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors said Monday they have declined to bring charges against nine people associated with CBS’ “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” who were arrested in a building in the U.S. Capitol complex last month.
The decision, made by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, comes after prosecutors determined they “cannot move forward” with the misdemeanor charges against the nine people arrested June 16 in the Longworth House Office Building. The incident followed the third public hearing by the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office said it was not probable a conviction could be obtained and sustained given that the nine arrested had been invited and that their escorts had never asked them to leave the building.
Though Capitol Police have refused to provide the names of those who were arrested, a person familiar with the matter provided The Associated Press with a list of nine people who had been stopped by Capitol Police. They included several producers, along with comedian and writer Robert Smigel, the voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
FILE - Robert Smigel, creator, executive producer and voice of "Triumph the Insult Comic Dog," poses with the puppet during the Television Critics Association 2016 Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on Aug. 5, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Federal prosecutors on Monday, July 18, 2022, declined to bring charges against Smigel and eight others associated with CBS’ “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” who were arrested in a building in the U.S. Capitol complex last month. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arrests-stephen-colbert-government-and-politics-84ebcc654735f619655d264944da0227
= new reply since forum marked as read
Only remaining question I have - were the putative 'escorts' (with, we will assume some degree of authority and/or authorization?) still with this group of 'clowns' when they were confronted by capital police? And maybe 'escorts' need to suffer some censure?
Hilarious 'sketch' guys ... Absolutely hilarious! ** ----- 
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