A federal judge Wednesday called on the Justice Department to investigate whether the D.C. Department of Corrections is violating the civil rights of dozens of January 6 detainees.
U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth of Washington made the call after finding jail officials failed to hand over information to approve wrist surgery recommended four months ago for a defendant, Just the News reports.
The defendant, Christopher Worrell, was charged with four felonies in connection with the Capitol riot on January 6, including rioting and spraying pepper gel at police.
Lamberth said D.C. officials failing to turn over medical records is “more than just inept and bureaucratic jostling of papers.”
“I find that the civil rights of the defendant have been abused,” Lamberth said. “I don’t know if it’s because he’s a January 6th defendant or not, but I found this matter should be referred to the attorney general of the United States for a civil rights investigation.”
He also suggested that the U.S. Marshals Service may have to move inmates from the D.C. jail to other facilities if they are being mistreated.
