Ct. 1: 18:351C.F--Congressional, Attempt To Kill;All of the charges related to distinctly federal aspects of the murders of Congresswoman Giffords and her staff, and federal Judge Roll, all of whom were performing their official duties at the time. (See below as to why Judge Roll was at the event). This federal complaint does not address the others killed, so we can expect state charges as well.
Ct. 2: 18:1114 and 1111--Murder First Degree;
Ct. 3: 18:1114 and 1111--Murder First Degree;
Ct. 4: 18:1114 and 1113--Attempted Murder;
Ct. 5: 18:1114 and 1113--Attempted Murder
Here are some interesting aspects of the Affidavit which accompanied the Complaint.
Judge Roll attended the event in order to speak with Congresswoman Giffords (emphasis mine):
"On January 9,2011, your affiant spoke with U.S. Marshal David Gonzales, who stated that the Honorable John M. Roll, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, had worked with Congresswoman Giffords within the last several months to resolve issues related to the volume of cases filed in the District of Arizona. Judge Roll was notified about Congresswoman Giffords' event telephonically on or about January 7, 2011. Having spoken to Pia Carusone, the Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Giffords in Washington D.C., U.S. Marshal Gonzales reports that Ron Barber, a staff person for Congresswoman Giffords who was present at the event, stated that Judge Roll attended the event and sought to speak to Congresswoman Giffords, and spoke with Mr. Barber about issues related to the volume of federal cases in the District of Arizona; Judge Roll expressed his appreciation to Mr. Barber for the help and support that Congresswoman Giffords had given. Your affiant reviewed a digital surveillance video depicting the events at the Safeway; in the video, Judge Roll is seen speaking for several minutes with Mr. Barber."A letter was found at Loughner's home, marked "I planned ahead" and "my assassination" (emphasis mine):
"On January 8, 2011, a search warrant was executed at 7741 N. Soledad Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, where LOUGHNER resides. Some of the evidence seized from that location included a letter in a safe, addressed to "Mr. Jared Loughney" at 7741 N. Soledad Avenue, from Congresswoman Giffords, on Congressional stationary, dated August 30, 2007, thanking him for attending a "Congress on your Corner" event at the Foothills Mall in Tucson. Also recovered in the safe was an envelope with handwriting on the envelope stating "I planned ahead," and "My assassination" and the name "Giffords," along with what appears to be LOUGHNER's signature."Here is the Complaint and accompanying affidavit:
USA v. Loughner - Criminal Complaint 1-9-2011
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Related Post:
Two Sicknesses On Display in Arizona
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Why weren't charges listed for the murder of the 9 year old child?
ReplyDelete@M - I added an explanation in the post.
ReplyDelete@Prof Jacobson:
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing that up. I was wondering why ALL of the victims weren't included in the indictments on the charge sheet.
In other news, 3 were shot at a baby shower being held in a church in Brooklyn today.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpps/news/brooklyn-baby-shower-shooting-injures-three-dpgonc-km-20110109_11365553
I am sure the Tea Party is implicated somehow.
//sarc off//
The incriminating letter/envelope points to pre-meditation. Hopefully, that is enough to take the insanity defense off the table. Does anybody know if that is so?
ReplyDelete"...charges related to distinctly federal aspects of the murders of Congresswoman Giffords...."
ReplyDeleteDid Congresswoman Giffords die? I've not seen that yet....
M - the girl was not a Federal official or employee acting in an official capacity; her killing will be charged under state law.
ReplyDeleteAs for Loughner - this looks like a grudge he's been harboring for a long time. Did something (anecdotal evidence of a lefty Loughner - would he be reacting to Giffords' bipartisan efforts in voting against Pelosi and reading the First Amendment?) push him over the edge, or was this just a matter of his first real opportunity?
My husband said he was an evil punk who was looking to make it into the history books.
ReplyDeleteLooks like my husband called it.
When do all the cable news channel talking heads apologize to Sarah Palin and the Tea Party?
The letter was dated August 2007 Sarah Palin wasn't on the political scene until summer 2008. The Tea Party didn't start forming till 2009.
I'll be sure not to hold my breath waiting for the retractions.
Stepping away from the political aspects of this tragedy for a moment and considering how mentally disturbed individuals seem to silently lurk in the background until something like this happens, takes me back to the Virginia Tech college massacre of 2007, where 32 people were killed by a student. At that time, the focus seemed to be on gun control issues, and not how mentally disturbed individuals are not to be considered dangerous until they actually perform a dangerous act.
ReplyDeleteThis guy was allegedly removed from college classes numerous times for being disruptive - I'm surprised the college wasn't scared out of its wits before this. Not that anything could have been done to prevent this, but the real issue is how society has to tolerate aberrant behavior at risk of it ultimately leading to something like this.
Actually, prior to the 1970s most people like Loughner were locked up in Insane Asylums. It was federal judges who ordered most of them released. Loughner could have been put away for short periods but most jurisdictions have given up, there simply are no facilities for them.
ReplyDeleteThe Federal Judges of the 1970s who released the inmates had some airy-fairy dreams of magical "community based" facilities which did not then and do not now exist.
The charge relating to Judge Roll acting in his official capacity seems to be a bit of a stretch.
ReplyDelete