Strib, publishing an AP feed - - at the beginning:
Feds back away from claim of assassination plot at CapitolPHOENIX — Federal prosecutors who initially said there was "strong evidence" the pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week aimed to "capture and assassinate elected officials" backed away from the allegation after the head of the investigation cautioned Friday that the probe is still in its early stages and there was no "direct evidence" of such intentions.
The accusation came in a court filing by prosecutors late Thursday in Phoenix in the case against Jacob Chansley, the Arizona man who took part in the insurrection while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns.
"Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government," a prosecutor wrote in a memo urging the judge to keep Chansley behind bars. But at a hearing for Chansley later in the day in Phoenix, another prosecutor, Todd Allison, struck the line from the memo.
Allison said the statement may very well end up being appropriate at Chansley's trial, but said prosecutors didn't want to mislead the court and don't have to rely on the stricken statement to argue that he should remain in jail. Ultimately, a judge on Friday ordered Chansley to be jailed until his trial.
Earlier on Friday, Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, backed away from the assassination claims, saying they have "no direct evidence at this point of kill, capture teams."
Wow! The first time ever a federal prosecutor overstated facts. In a bail hearing, apparently. Mark this momentous day on your calendar. It can never happen again. It will not. If you believe otherwise, just ask the nearest federal prosecutor you can find who'll take the time to talk to you. See what she says.
Likely the judge kept him jugged so he would not be able to gore anybody with that hat.
UPDATE: More outstanding "Can You Really Believe It" news. Same day. Online at Strib. Local content.