Lawyer Representing 17 Jan. 6 Defendants Has Mysteriously Gone Missing: Court Filings

Court filings say John Pierce hospitalized with COVID-19, while others say he's suffering from another condition

Police release tear gas into a crowd during clashes at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

An attorney who is representing 17 defendants accused of taking part in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach has disappeared, possibly suffering from COVID-19, according to an Aug. 30 court filing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips said in a court document (pdf) that nearly 20 cases related to the Jan. 6 incident aren’t proceeding after John Pierce, the lawyer for the defense, went missing.