New York Times managed this with eloquence.

  • aeronmelon@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    It’s not as clear as it should be, it means convicted people that are still fighting the charges

    Add: I want to read the article of the story behind the two who were acquitted.

    • litchralee@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Formally speaking, a conviction will attach once a defendant is found guilty by a trial court. Even while one or more appeals may be ongoing, it is accurate to describe the defendant as convicted. The status of a federal conviction sticks until such time the conviction is judicially overturned by a successful appeal, or when pardoned by the executive. But not clemency, which is a reduction in the penalty by the executive, but retains the conviction.

      A person who has their conviction overturned or pardoned can no longer be accurately described as convicted. Although colloquially, it’s unclear if “ex-convict” is an acceptable description or not.

      • CallumWells@lemmy.ml
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        6 months ago

        I would say that one shouldn’t use “ex-convict” if the conviction was overturned, since that’s essentially saying the conviction was incorrect to begin with (as far as I understand), while it could be correct for someone who was pardoned, since it isn’t directly about the conviction being wrong in that case (unless I’ve misunderstood that).

        • litchralee@sh.itjust.works
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          6 months ago

          I phrased it that way because I’m also unsure as to how “ex-convict” should be used and how most people use it. I’ve heard other people say it to mean anyone who has been released from prison, although that doesn’t make much sense for someone who just serves their time.

          As a result, so far as I’m aware, it’s colloquially ambiguous, and lawyers and jurists may have a more stringent definition they might use.

    • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      I want to read the article of the story behind the two who were acquitted.

      My guess: able to hire expensive lawyers.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
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        6 months ago

        I vaguely recall one of them having not entered the Capitol? So they were part of the group milling around outside, which mostly wasn’t charged.

    • aelwero@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I’d expect more acquittals tbh. It was, at the outset, a legal and constitutionally protected protest. I’m still not entirely on board with calling it an insurrection, a coup, etc. but it definitely devolved into a non-peaceful event, and I’m pretty ambivalent when it comes to the prosecutions due to that. They fucked around, they should find out. You don’t wander off with the speaker of the house’s podium and not have the full focus of government come down on your ass.

      I would 100% expect acquittals for anyone who stayed outside though, as a hypothetical condition that might warrant acquittal… That for me would be a solid indicator that their intent was limited to peaceful protest. Could very well be that there were only two people who did so.

      I’d also like to read an article on the acquittals, but I find their presence to be encouraging, and I’m assuming you don’t feel that way.

      On the left side of the fence though, the presence of acquittals, even so few, lends a great deal of credibility to the cases… Does it not? Wasn’t a kangaroo court if it wasn’t 100%, right? I think so anyway :)

      • Godort@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        This is more likely a case where the people that were only outside were never even convicted of a crime.

        The FBI seems to be after the people they have credible evidence of actually engaging in violence or planned violence.

      • Serinus@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        I’m still not entirely on board with calling it an insurrection, a coup, etc.

        What were they trying to do, and how were they trying to accomplish it?

      • PlasterAnalyst@kbin.social
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        6 months ago

        There’s video of people outside fighting the police. “Just being outside” isn’t really a valid defense either.