William Watson

On January 6, 2021, William traveled from Auburn, Alabama, to Washington, DC, to participate in the “March to Save America” rally with the intention to peacefully protest the Congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

After Trump’s speech at the Ellipse, William followed along with the hundreds of other rallygoers to the West Plaza area of the Capitol grounds. As the crowd grew, law enforcement officers began unnecessarily spraying tear gas at the protestors. William said, “The only reason people even got charged up is because of the law enforcement’s aggressive use of tear gas and pepper balls.” 

Out of fear of getting sprayed by the officers and to defend himself, if necessary, William held out a small can of pepper spray but never deployed it. William joined the crowd and helped to push through the police barriers while chanting, “Oaths were to protect us, not them.”  Soon after, the police officers began to move the barricades out of the way. William and others in the crowd were guided by police officers, who directed them toward the Capitol entrance using hand signals.

William entered through a window adjacent to the Senate Wing Door that had previously been broken. Once inside the Capitol, William proceeded to walk to the Ohio Clock Corridor, which was full of other protestors. William saw that the officers in the Ohio Clock Corridor were concerned that there might be violence.

William, to keep things calm and peaceful, helped communicate with the crowd for approximately 30 minutes saying, “The police here are willing to work with us. Cooperate peacefully as our first amendment allows.” William is even shown on video fist-bumping with a police officer. Eventually, William and other protestors were escorted out of the Capitol.

On January 11, 2021, William consented to a search of his home on Samantha Court in Auburn, AL. FBI agents then detained and escorted William out of his home in handcuffs. William was booked into Lee County Detention Facility and remained there until May 4th, based on a prior conviction. He was arrested on May 4th, 2021, and released on bond with an ankle monitor. He was charged with Obstruction of an Official Proceeding (being challenged at the Supreme Court) Destruction of Government Property, Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Capitol Building, Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings, Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building.

During his stipulated trial (a trial that streamlines litigation by voluntarily agreeing about specific and relevant matters in the case to avoid a full briefing or hearing.) on 11/18/22 in DC, William was detained without warning by U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton until his sentencing on 3/19/23. William was thrown into solitary confinement on a cell block with murderers and child rapists at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, VA. Although William committed ZERO acts of violence, he was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding.  This is the felony statute being challenged at the Supreme Court because it is part of a financial crime bill that makes it a felony to shred documents during an investigation.  The DOJ uses this arcane statute because it is a felony and enables them to upgrade misdemeanors and maximize the sentence.  He was also found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. William was sentenced to 36 months in prison, ordered to pay a special assessment of $200 and 36 months of supervised release.

During William’s incarceration his daughter was born 12 weeks prematurely. He was unable to even meet her or hold her in his arms. William has accrued a substantial amount of debt between his legal defense and his daughter’s ongoing medical care.