Capitol Rioter James Beeks Invokes ‘Divine’ Authority In Trial Defense
A man on trial for his role in the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol claimed in his virtual defense testimony on Monday that he was operating on “divine” authority and that the government has no jurisdiction to punish him. Defendant James Beeks, a Michael Jackson impersonator who played Judas in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Jesus Christ Superstar prior to his arrest last week, told Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. that he is “an American standing under public law and I am hereby special divine appearance.” Beeks carried a shield and ...