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The lawyer for alleged US Capitol rioter Anthony Antonio says that his client suffered from ‘Foxitis.’
Joseph Hurley, Antonio’s lawyer, told Federal Judge Robin Meriweather during a virtual hearing that his client lost his job because of the pandemic and developed ‘Foxitis’ and ‘Foxmania’ from watching Fox News for six months constantly. Hurley says that Antonio believed former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
“He believed what was being fed to him,” Hurley said.
Antonio, who has not entered a plea, is being charged with five federal crimes, including violent entry, disorderly conduct, and destruction of government property.
During the deadly insurrection on January 6, Antonio made contact with DC Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a heart attack after being tasered during the riot. During an interview with the FBI, Antonio described how he saw “death” in Fanone’s eyes.
“I didn’t help him when I should have,” Antonio told FBI agents.
According to CNN, during the virtual videoconference, Landon Copeland, another Capitol rioter, was muted by the judge for shouting “I object” to Hurley’s assertion that Antonio was suffering from ‘Foxitis.’ Copeland went on a rant about his lawyers, law enforcement, and the judge.
“I don’t like you people,” Copeland said. “… I don’t know who you are, you are a robot to me. I’m out here in the desert, in no-man’s-land. You can’t find me if I don’t want you to.”
“You’re evil, that’s what you are. You need to shut up.”
Throughout the videoconference, Copeland was repeatedly muted for his outburst. At one point, Copeland yelled at a clerk, “fuck all of y’all.”
Copeland’s attorney, Ryan Stout, says that his client suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“I don’t think he’s being belligerent intentionally, I think he’s in a crisis,” Stout said.
Copeland, who stole a riot shield, turned a metal fence into a weapon, and shoved police, is not in jail. Judge Meriweather ordered that he must have a mental health evaluation before any hearings.
