Capitol riot defendant Brandon Fellows caused concern among jurors during his trial when he made outbursts criticizing the court and was found in contempt. Some jurors even wrote a note to Judge Trevor McFadden, expressing worries about the security of their personal information, such as their home addresses.
In response to their concerns, Judge McFadden explained that both parties are given limited biographical information about prospective jurors at the beginning of the trial, but that information is collected and returned at the end of the trial.
A spokesperson for the court declined to comment on the security measures in place. However, David Becker, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research, found the judge’s response unusual and troubling. He believed that the jurors’ safety concerns should have been directly addressed to alleviate any worries they may have had.
It’s worth noting that other judges handling January 6 cases have also reported receiving threats.
Brandon Fellows, who faced a five-count indictment, including a felony charge of obstruction, was convicted on all charges. He was accused of entering Senator Jeffrey Merkley’s office during the Capitol breach and was captured on video propping his feet on an office desk while wearing a fake orange beard.
In a separate incident in July 2021, Judge McFadden revoked Fellows’ bail after he left disturbing voicemails for his pretrial services officer and even called her mother. Fellows had been problematic throughout his contact with the officer, making sexual innuendos and leaving lengthy voicemails. The officer also noted that when asked to look for work, Fellows sarcastically applied to Albany’s FBI office.
Overall, the safety concerns of jurors in cases related to the Capitol riot are significant, as evidenced by the threats received by court personnel.
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