There are some in this day and age that believe that nothing “real” happens until one has posted it on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, whatever platform page. To these people, if one just silently pulls a child back from the curb as a car goes roaring by, they haven’t done anything without recording video of the child thanking them, reenacting it, and posting it online.

And then there are some of us that just smile and are thankful that everything turned out alright. The electronic world doesn’t need to know your every move.

This would seem to be a particularly important point for criminals to keep in mind. The people who raided the Capitol in a “1776” rage that left several dead, dozens seriously wounded (people are not talking enough about the number of police officers seriously hurt), seem to be of that type that believes “it didn’t happen” unless it is online. Of course, these people are almost all white and very entitled, so it never occurred to them that they might well be committing a crime. They also seem unaware of the fact that the FBI actually does know that social media exists and that evidence often pops up, sometimes in the form of an admission.

Such is the case with one Russell James Peterson, who made sure that “it happened” by live streaming his actions in the insurrection on Facebook. Were that not enough, his mother posted that Russell sat in Pelosi’s chair. From Mediaite:

According to the FBI, a tipster told them that the defendant’s mother had posted on Facebook that Peterson stormed the Capitol Building and “sat in Pelosi’s chair.”

Pictures cited by the FBI showed the defendant, his mother, and a woman with the same last name as them in what the tipster called the “protest area” outside in D.C. Authorities did not describe any evidence placing the women in the Capitol Building. No charges against them have been reported.

Peterson is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct which impedes the conduct of government business; disruptive conduct in the Capitol Buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol Buildings. It is unclear if he has an attorney in this matter.

Well, there is a lesson here. Russel is of the type that believes that he hasn’t done “anything” unless he’s posted it to his social media page, so he made sure “he did it.” Now, a potential jury will know that “he did it,” but we doubt he’ll be recording what happens after he receives his judgment.

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Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak