Jan 6 Defendant ‘Horrified’ by Fox News ‘Ongoing Misinformation’ While Blaming ‘Lies Sold to Him and Millions of Others’

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Defendant David Howard blamed “Fox News” for pushing the “lies sold to him and millions of others” for resulting in his role in the Capitol riot in 2021, which came after “the media” convinced him the preceding presidential election was rigged against former President Donald Trump.

Howard is facing multiple charges for his role in the riot that took place on January 6th, 2021, and is due to face sentencing on August 2. According to court documents, the defendant is charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building and demonstrating in a Capitol building.

In remorseful arguments submitted to the court, Howard sought mercy at sentencing and said he“regretted succumbing to these influences and is horrified by their ongoing influence and affect.”

The court document continued: “He is/was simply a small-town man who between the years of 2014 and 2020 followed the media and news which much of his small community seemed to follow – Fox News. Mr. Howard bought the lies sold to him and millions of others for many years and especially in the wake of the 2020 election.”

The document added: “Now, again, Mr. Howard is horrified by their ongoing misinformation, influence and affect and veers away from any of that. He focuses his time and energy on his work and family, especially his young children.”

In a further clause the defense document emphasizes that “Mr. Howard had no intention, ever, of engaging in the actions which led to his arrest. He came to Washington, DC, from Dallas (via Miami), on January 6th alone because he was led to believe – from his local media and large swaths of the community around him at home – that his vote for Mr. Trump in 2020 had been stolen; that the election had been stolen.”

Mediaite has reached out to Fox for comment.