Defendant said he initially had a dispute over his participation in the “Stop the Steal” rally and found the speeches unimpressive, adding that he climbed to the front of the US Capitol after seeing people walk away injured, telling jurors he was “planned ». to help in these cases.
According to Webster, he only confronted the policeman, Noah Rathbun, after Rathbun mocked him to meet the fence line for a fight and punched him in the head. The blow, Webster said, was “like a hammer blow,” adding that he began to see stars and was scared.
Webster’s account of the incident ran almost inconsistently with Officer Rathbun’s testimony on Wednesday. According to Rathbun, it was Webster who was making fun of him for fighting, shouting at the officer to “get my shit out,” Rathbun testified. The officer also says he never punched Webster and “accidentally made contact with his face” as Webster continued to push the metal fence separating the rioters and police.
After the contact, Webster says he turned his flagpole on the metal fence to chase Rathbun. “I saw stars,” Webster testified.
According to Webster, Rathbun then tore down the fence. “He’s coming after me,” Webster testified, thinking at the time, “I’m scared. He became a fraud. ”
He then ran to Rathbun and the officer “fell a bit”, Webster said, adding that he “grabbed the filter” of the Rathbun gas mask “and just pushed it up”.
“I just wanted him to see my hands,” Webster testified. “It was scary … he reacted.”
It was here that Rathbun testified that he “could not breathe” because Webster was pulling the strap of his chin around his neck.
“He tore me down … he grabbed my helmet and started pulling me,” Rathbun said Wednesday.
Webster will continue his testimony Friday morning with Judge Amit Mehta presiding.
