A Washington, D.C., jury acquitted the first six protestors who were tried in D.C. Superior Court related to the February 2017 Inauguration Day protests. Each of the defendants faced two criminal misdemeanor counts of engaging in rioting and conspiracy to riot, in addition to five criminal felony destruction of property counts.
This was a closely-watched case due to the important criminal and constitutional-law implications related to the charges. And with nearly 200 defendants facing similar charges in trials scheduled throughout 2018, this case was the trial balloon for both the prosecution and defense theories related to the Inauguration Day Protects in D.C.
You can read more about these acquittals here.
