A Michael Jackson impersonator, accused of participating in the US Capitol riot, has clashed with a judge after rejecting the court’s authority.
James Beeks, a Michael Jackson impersonator and actor, was accused of “gobbledygook” by the judge after claiming he had “divine” authority.
Beeks was arrested after FBI agents went to several of his performances of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He is among nearly 700 people charged over the 6 January Capitol riot.
Beeks is being charged with obstruction of Congress and unlawful entry of a restricted building. He has yet to enter a plea to the charges he faces.
Prosecutors were not seeking pre-trial detention for him at Monday’s hearing in Washington DC but he was nearly remanded in custody after a courtroom outburst.
Beeks argued that he had “divine” authority and that he could not serve as his own lawyer in a trial. “I cannot represent myself because I am myself,” he said.
After Beeks claimed to be exempt from the US legal system, the judge told him: “That’s all gobbledygook.”
“A defendant who rejects the jurisdiction of the court, rejects being subject to the laws of the United States, rejects the rule of law is not typically released pre-trial because that person cannot be trusted to comply with the conditions of pre-trial release,” Chief US District Judge Beryl Howell warned him.
Beeks denied being an adherent of the so-called sovereign citizen movement, rejecting the label as an “insult”.
The judge eventually allowed him to be released on condition that he wear a GPS tracking device, does not possess firearms, and avoids all contact with Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia of which he is alleged to be a member.
Beeks was arrested in Milwaukee last week after FBI agents attended two shows of a traveling performance of Jesus Christ Superstar in which he plays Judas.
Investigators said that Beeks wore a jacket from the pop star’s 1987 “Bad” world tour to the riot and brought a homemade shield.
According to an FBI affidavit, he was among the first rioter to enter the Capitol building.
Sources: BBC, News break
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