Joel Hirschhorn Provides Insight into Defense Strategy of Capitol Riot Arrests in Bloomberg

Miami, Fla. – January 26, 2021 – GrayRobinson, P.A. (GrayRobinson) white collar criminal defense attorney, Joel Hirschhorn, shareholder in the Miami law firm office, shares his insight into the Capitol riot arrests in Bloomberg’s "QAnon-Backer Becomes Yoga-Lover for Lawyers Defending Rioters." The article explains that lawyers are looking for ways to defend more than 135 people charged with everything from assault and trespassing, to stealing government property, and conspiring to subvert democracy. As part of that effort, lawyers are reviewing social media posts and news footage for any evidence that could be used to change the public perception of their clients or minimize their roles in the Capitol siege.

One legal strategy in play is to invoke a legal concept known as the public authority defense - the argument that the rioters were simply following orders from a government official. Some legal experts, including Hirschhorn, question whether blaming former President Trump will result in acquittals. "That defense didn’t work at Nuremberg, and it’s not going to work here," said Hirschhorn.