WASHINGTON, DC - Federal prosecutors have argued in court papers filed yesterday (Monday) that Narrowsburg native Edward Jacob Lang, 25, must remain incarcerated while his trial on multiple felony charges related to his participation in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol is pending.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Jackson asserted in their "memorandum in support of pre-trial detention" that even though Lang has only one prior conviction for a misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, "the defendant's actions, as demonstrated by his apparent willingness to repeatedly engage in assaultive behavior while armed as part of a violent mob attacking law enforcement officers, should give this Court great concern about the danger he would pose to the community, if released."
Lang is scheduled to appear in court at 1 pm today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather. His attorney, Steven Metcalf, II, could not immediately be reached for comment this morning. Update: Lang's case was moved by the court to U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui and he's scheduled to appear at 3:30 pm today.
The 17-page document also stated that "the evidence against this defendant is overwhelmingly strong, and accordingly, the weight of the evidence weighs heavily in favor of detention."
The prosecutors said that "the charged offenses involve violent assaultive conduct, and the assaults became more violent and dangerous when the defendant armed himself first with a shield and then with a baseball bat. He armed himself and assaulted law enforcement with the intent to unlawfully enter the U.S. Capitol and stop the functioning of our government as it met to certify election results. The danger the defendant caused by assisting the violent mob cannot be understated. The defendant was a spoke in the wheel that caused the historic events of January 6, 2021, and he is thus a danger to our society and a threat to the peaceful functioning of our community. His public comments about further escalation – like his noting that what happens next is “guns” and indicating that “we have got some big things planned” --just add to the danger to the community already made clear by his decision to violently and repeatedly attack law enforcement guarding the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Given the above assessment of all four relevant factors, no conditions or combinations of conditions can effectively ensure the safety of any other person and the community."
Lang, who was took video of himself and who was also recorded by media outlets in still photos and videos at the lower west terrace doors, was arrested on January 16 at his home in Newburgh. He is the son of former Town of Tusten council member Ned Lang and Sari Lang, who has a real estate business in Florida.
Ned Lang's only public comment about his son's arrest has been a statement sent to The River Reporter, in which he blames drug use for the participation in the riots.
But it's also clear that Edward Jacob Lang clearly followed in his father's footsteps (and business signage) when it came to support for the former president. His father has placed large Trump signs in front of his local businesses as well as on his commercial vans.
Ned Lang has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican causes, including $12,000 to the Trump Victory Committee on September 30, 2020, another $9,300 to the Republican National Committee on the same day, and two checks of $500 each to the "Trump Make America Great Again Committee" in December 2020 - after Trump's election loss.
On Wednesday, February 10, The Center for Responsive Politics reported that monies from the "Trump Make America Great Again Committee" were funneled to those behind the planning of the January 6 rally in front of The White House that devolved into violent rioting at the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead.
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