Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Capitol Rioter Who Livestreamed Jan. 6 Mocked For Blowing Up Plea Deal With 'Innocent' Claim

Capitol Rioter Who Livestreamed Jan. 6 Mocked For Blowing Up Plea Deal With 'Innocent' Claim
Department of Justice; Samuel Corum/Getty Images

A Capitol rioter who proved his guilt by live-streaming his activities on January 6 had a plea deal all ready to go—all he had to do was plead guilty.

Instead, he pleaded innocent and blew his chance at a reduced sentence.


Far-right influencer Anthime Joseph Gionet, known online as "Baked Alaska," was being charged with just one misdemeanor count as part of the plea deal, but he will now be charged with a felony and face a criminal trial which have not gone well for other rioters.

Gionet's stunt left the internet slack-jawed.

Gionet was originally charged with more serious crimes.

Gionet's plea deal meant he would need to plead guilty—a requirement for plea deals unless specifically stated otherwise—to one single misdemeanor charge for having "willfully and knowingly paraded, demonstrated, and picketed" inside the Capitol building, a charge that would typically result in a very light sentence.

But when Judge Emmet G. Sullivan asked for his guilty plea, Gionet seemed intent on pointing out he believed he was innocent, seemingly unaware this amounts to a plea of not guilty.

He told Judge Sullivan:

"I wanted to go to trial, but the prosecutors [said] if I [went] to trial, they would put a felony on me, so I think this is probably the better route."
"I believe I'm innocent ..."

According to BuzzFeed News reporter Zoe Tillman, who was in the courtroom, Judge Sullivan simply replied:

"Well fine, pick a trial date."


Sullivan set the trial for March 2023, at which Gionet will now face federal charges for crimes he filmed himself committing.

As several experts pointed out, comments Gionet has made about his plea deal indicate he has likely already cooperated with prosecutors in providing information about the insurrection.

If he goes to trial, that information can now be used against him.


Twitter, of course, had a field day with Gionet's gaffe.

There was very little sympathy for him.

@People4Words/Twitter

@People4Words/Twitter







After discussions with Gionet's attorneys, lead prosecutor Liz Aloi granted him 60 days to reconsider his plea.

Godspeed to his lawyers.

More from Trending

Screenshots of Will Thilly breakdancing
New York Post/YouTube

Guy Breakdances His Way Into Town Hall Meeting To Ask Why Taxes Went Up—And Becomes An Instant Legend

Cranford, New Jersey town council candidate Will Thilly went viral after dancing his way up to the podium at a recent town hall meeting to ask why property taxes in Cranford have gone "up so much."

Thilly's unique tax protest began when he danced his way up to the podium and continued to dance even after a Cranford Township official said, "Mr. Thilly, I started your time." People laughed when Thilly held up a finger to stop the official and continued to dance anyway.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Brian Kilmeade
Fox News

Fox News Host Apologizes After His Suggestion That Homeless People Be Euthanized Sparks Outrage

Fox and Friends host Brian Kilmeade was criticized for suggesting that homeless people with mental health issues get "involuntary lethal injection" after the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina—and was swiftly condemned for an insincere apology several days after the fact as many are calling for Fox News to terminate his contract.

Zarutska was stabbed to death at the East/West Boulevard station on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte last month; her killer, a homeless man with a history of mental health issues, has since been charged with first-degree murder.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sofía Vergara
Bryan Steffy/Getty Images

Sofía Vergara Reveals She Missed Presenting At The Emmys Due To 'Craziest' Medical Emergency

Almost everyone has a favorite television show they like to turn on at the end of a rough day or binge-watch for a bit of nostalgia, and most of us pretty frequently check out new shows to see if we can spot a favorite.

Needless to say, the Emmys award show is a huge deal every year, honoring all of the people involved in the projects that are currently gracing the small screen, and basically anyone who's anyone will attend.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rep. Nancy Mace
CNN

Nancy Mace Just Tried To Claim She's Never 'Dehumanized' Her Colleagues—And The Internet Brought The Receipts

South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace was called out for hypocrisy after she claimed on CNN that Democrats in Congress have been "dehumanizing" Republicans, a move she would "never" do—despite her record of doing just that.

Speaking to anchor Katie Bolduan while the search for the suspect who killed far-right activist Charlie Kirk was ongoing, Mace objected to Bolduan's observation that she was using "us v. them" language, only saying that things are "very one-sided right now." She also suggested that the situation is so bad for her that she's actually afraid of "just walking out in public."

Keep ReadingShow less
A younger man stand on top of a mountain with his arms outreached and his face looking to the sky. It's a beautiful day and lakes and mountains are the backdrop.
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

People Who Quit Their High-Paying Jobs For Happiness Explain How It Turned Out

Sometimes money isn't the goal.

It is a BIG goal for many.

Keep ReadingShow less