Court Opinion

ID: 9892572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-24 16:04:19.395516+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:23:32.664228
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                             FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

____________________________________
                                    )
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA            )
                                    )
      v.                            )                Criminal No. 21-0382 (PLF)
                                    )
CHRISTOPHER WARNAGIRIS,             )
                                    )
            Defendant.              )
____________________________________)

                          MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

               On October 16, 2023, the parties in the above-captioned case appeared for oral

argument on several outstanding motions. The parties discussed, among other things, the need

for additional written submissions addressing (1) defendant Christopher Warnagiris’s motion for

exculpatory evidence, and (2) the definitions of terms including “forcibly,” “assault,” and

“simple assault.”

                       I. MOTION FOR EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE

               At the motions hearing, the Court directed the parties to submit additional

information about Mr. Warnagiris’s motion for exculpatory evidence on or before Friday,

October 20, 2023. Mr. Warnagiris filed a supplement refuting the government’s assertion that

facial recognition technology is publicly available and reasserting that the government has

“hundreds of thousands of videos” in a database, some of which may be Brady material. See

Second Supplement to Motion for Brady Materials [Dkt. No. 88]. The government requested an

extension of time in which to respond to the Court’s request and Mr. Warnagiris’s submission.

See Government’s Motion to Extend Time to File Opposition [Dkt. No. 89].
               The Court granted the government’s request for an extension of time, and the

government’s submission is due on or before October 27, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. See Minute Order

of October 20, 2023. In advance of that deadline, the Court directs the government to address

the following in its submission, in addition to addressing the points raised by Mr. Warnagiris in

his filings:

               (1) If the U.S. Attorney’s Office has control over a database of January 6, 2021

material that has not been disclosed to Mr. Warnagiris, has that database been searched for

potentially exculpatory or impeaching material relating to Officer Warner? If not, explain the

logistical or technical challenges that searching this database would pose and provide the legal

reasoning and case law support for why the government has not conducted such a search.

               (2) If the U.S. Attorney’s Office is employing private actors or organizations to

locate and retain evidence relating to January 6, 2021, are those private actors or organizations

the government’s “agents” for Brady purposes?

               (3) If the U.S. Attorney’s Office is employing private actors or organizations to

locate and retain evidence relating to January 6, 2021, has the government searched through that

evidence for potentially exculpatory or impeaching material relating to Officer Warner?

               (4) Is the government aware of whether any of the evidence in the government’s

possession was, but is no longer, publicly available on the internet?

               (5) Does the government have concerns about releasing the requested evidence

that relate to Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, governing grand jury secrecy?

               (6) Does the government believe that it needs to present information relating to

its investigation into January 6, 2021 and its evidence retention policies ex parte?

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               (7) It appears uncontested that the U.S. Attorney’s Office does maintain a

database of videos and other digital documents relating to January 6, 2021 and that this database

is routinely disclosed to defendants – and has in fact been disclosed to Mr. Warnagiris – through

Relativity and Evidence.com. Has the information that is maintained on these platforms been

searched for potentially exculpatory or impeaching material relating to Officer Warner? Has any

potentially exculpatory or impeaching material been specifically identified for Mr. Warnagiris?

If the government has not searched these databases and identified potential Brady evidence in

their contents, explain the reasons why this has not occurred, including any logistical or technical

challenges, and provide the legal reasoning and case law support for failing to do so.

                                  II. BENCH INSTRUCTIONS

               At the October 16, 2023 motions hearing, the Court also discussed the possibility

of the parties filing bench instructions or supplemental briefs on various offense elements. The

Court has reviewed the submissions in this case, as well as the bench instructions and

submissions in other cases in this district. Specifically, the Court has reviewed: Defendant’s

Supplemental Brief on the Proper Reading of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) [Dkt. No. 52]; Defendant’s

Trial Brief [Dkt. No. 71]; Final Jury Instructions, United States v. GossJankowski, Crim.

No. 21-0123 (D.D.C. Mar. 17, 2023) [Dkt. No. 166]; Elements of the Offense Instructions,

United States v. Black, Crim. No. 21-0127 (D.D.C. Jan. 3, 2023) [Dkt. No. 70]; and Final Legal

Instructions, United States v. DaSilva, Crim. No. 21-0564 (D.D.C. July 13, 2023) [Dkt. No. 76].

The parties are hereby notified that the Court will use the jury instructions in GossJankowski,

Black, and DaSilva as a starting point for the bench instructions in this case. If the parties have

objections to these instructions or proposed alterations to these instructions that have not already

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been raised in prior written submissions, the parties may file submissions on proposed bench

instructions on or before November 2, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.

                 Furthermore, although Mr. Warnagiris has submitted extensive briefing on

various outstanding legal issues, the government has not provided its position on many of the

issues Mr. Warnagiris has raised. The government is hereby directed to respond to the issues

raised in Defendant’s Supplemental Brief on the Proper Reading of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) [Dkt.

No. 52] and Defendant’s Trial Brief [Dkt. No. 71]. Specifically, the government’s submission

should address the following:

                 (1) The government’s proposed definition of “assault” and “simple assault” as the

term is used in the statutes under which Mr. Warnagiris is charged;

                 (2) Whether the government believes it necessary to define “bodily injury” and

“serious bodily injury” in bench instructions, and the government’s proposed definitions of these

terms;

                 (3) The government’s proposed definition of “forcibly” as the term is used in 18

U.S.C. § 111(a);

                 (4) The government’s proposed definition of “corruptly” as the term is used in 18

U.S.C. § 1512(c), in light of the D.C. Circuit’s decision in United States v. Robertson,

No. 22-3062, 2023 WL 6932346 (D.C. Cir. October 20, 2023);

                 (5) The government’s proposed definition of “restricted” as the term is used in 18

U.S.C. § 1752;

                 (6) The government’s proposed bench instruction for aiding and abetting, 18

U.S.C. § 2;

                 (7) How to construe the knowledge requirement in 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a); and

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               (8) Whether 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(2) requires a “cause-in-fact” instruction, and if

so, the government’s proposed bench instruction as to cause-in-fact.

               Mr. Warnagiris may submit additional written briefing on the above-identified

issues if he has not already done so in prior filings.

               The Court will address the parties’ legal arguments on the offense elements and

definitions when the parties convene for trial on November 8, 2023.

               In view of the foregoing, it is hereby

               ORDERED that the government’s response to Mr. Warnagiris’s Motion for

Exculpatory Evidence [Dkt. No. 70] and Second Supplement to Motion for Brady Materials

[Dkt. No. 88] shall address the above-listed questions; it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that the government shall file a submission addressing the

above-listed legal issues on or before November 2, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.; and it is

               FURTHER ORDERED that the government and Mr. Warnagiris may file any

additional objections or proposals for the Court’s bench instructions on or before November 2,

2023 at 12:00 p.m.

               SO ORDERED.
                                                                         Digitally signed by Paul L.
                                                                         Friedman
                                                                         Date: 2023.10.24 11:17:56
                                                                         -04'00'
                                                         ________________________
                                                         PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
                                                         United States District Judge

DATE: October 24, 2023

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