Capitol Riot Attorney John Pierce Mysteriously Hospitalized

• The prominent proper-wing attorney John Pierce has been hospitalized, a colleague verified to Insider.
• Pierce signifies various alleged Capitol rioters, and was fired previously this 12 months by Kyle Rittenhouse.
• A person report mentioned Pierce was on a ventilator with COVID-19, which Pierce’s colleague did not validate or deny.

John Pierce, the conservative attorney who was fired by Kyle Rittenhouse and has represented at minimum 17 Capitol riot defendants, has been hospitalized, a single of his colleagues verified to Insider.

The national stability journalist Marcy Wheeler initially reported Wednesday that one particular of Pierce’s colleagues, Ryan Marshall, appeared on the lawyer’s behalf in a court listening to for a Capitol riot defendant.

Marshall advised the decide Pierce could not attend because he was “in the medical center, we feel, with COVID-19, on a ventilator, non-responsive,” in accordance to Wheeler. 

Neither Pierce nor Marshall responded Wednesday to Insider’s inquiries, and various phone numbers for Pierce’s regulation agency, Pierce Bainbridge P.C., have been disconnected.

But Insider received an e mail late Wednesday from a single of Pierce’s colleagues at the National Constitutional Regulation Union, a conservative authorized firm Pierce launched to rival the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union, with an update on his affliction.

The colleague, Brody Womack, verified that Pierce was hospitalized on Monday “because of to signs and symptoms that he considered may have been related to COVID-19.” He neither confirmed nor denied that Pierce was identified with COVID-19 and was on a ventilator.

“John seems to have been suffering from dehydration and exhaustion in relation to his tireless operate on behalf of his purchasers, which includes the numerous defendants he represents in link with the January 6, 2021 protest at the Capitol,” the e-mail browse. “John, a former Military tank platoon leader, is a all-natural-born fighter – both in and out of the courtroom. Although John continues to be below the care of his medical practitioners, we count on him to make a complete restoration. John and his family thank absolutely everyone for their issue.”

During a Thursday afternoon listening to for a distinctive Capitol riot defendant, Peter Schwartz, Marshall all over again appeared on Pierce’s behalf.

Judge Amit Mehta mentioned he could not set a trial date “with no figuring out whether or not Mr. Pierce will be able to go on as counsel,” and requested for an update on the attorney’s condition at a hearing on September 2.

Prosecutors wrote in a Monday filing in a various Capitol riot case that the US Attorney’s Office environment in Washington, DC hasn’t experienced speak to with Pierce since August 23. The filing said the governing administration viewed as the scenario “effectively at a standstill,” given that Marshall isn’t a certified legal professional who can characterize Pierce’s purchasers.

“The United States consequently finds alone in a position where by this defendant and 16 other defendants charged in relationship with the Capitol Riot seem to be proficiently without the need of counsel,” prosecutors wrote. “Unfortunately, it appears to be that Mr. Pierce may be hospitalized and unable to communicate, and it is unclear when Mr. Pierce will get well.” 

Pierce has been fired by equally Rittenhouse and two alleged Capitol rioters

Pierce, who is recognized for his fiery Twitter presence, hasn’t posted on the system since August 20. Just days previously, he posted a skeptical tweet about the COVID-19 vaccine, saying, “The complete 82nd Airborne couldn’t make me get an experimental governing administration vaccine stuck in my arm.”

Pierce formerly represented Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-calendar year-previous accused of capturing and killing two persons and wounding a third in the course of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020. Rittenhouse’s family members fired Pierce earlier this calendar year, amid a fallout more than the authorized protection fund Pierce had served established up together with the considerably-suitable activist Lin Wooden.

Rittenhouse’s household has said they by no means gained a entire accounting of the cash the #FightBack Foundation raised in his name. Pierce earlier told Insider he had no affiliation with #FightBack given that using Kyle’s scenario. 

Two of Pierce’s Capitol riot defendants have now fired the lawyer, according to courtroom files.

Ryan Samsel, a Pennsylvania man charged with attacking a police officer until eventually she misplaced consciousness, gained a motion on August 12 to exchange Pierce and keep a distinctive attorney. Alan Hostetter, a former police chief who launched a much-appropriate team, also fired Pierce and a decide taken out him from the case on August 3.