Jan. 6 defendant arrested in Minnesota defends himself in court

WASHINGTON - A man arrested in Minneapolis for his alleged part in the Jan. 6 insurrection served as his own attorney Tuesday to defend himself against charges that he assaulted law enforcement during the U.S. Capitol attack.

A crowd of then-President Donald Trump's supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol and disrupted Congress from working to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost.

But Brian Christopher Mock, 44, claimed in Washington, D.C.'s U.S. District Court that "the whole narrative of that day is a sham." He argued police instigated the violence and attacked what had been a peacefully gathered crowd outside the Capitol where his alleged actions took place.

Prosecutors challenged that version of events. In the overall violence of that day, police officers were attacked and injured by the mob. Rioters breached the Capitol during the attack, suspending the certification process for hours amid chaos. Early the following morning, Democrat Joe Biden was certified as the next president after the building was cleared of rioters.

Mock faces 11 charges and is the first person arrested in Minnesota over Jan. 6 to have a case go to trial. Mock opted against a jury trial, and a federal judge is expected to hand down a verdict in the case Wednesday.

At times Mock downplayed, denied or challenged the allegations leveled against him. Mock began the trial in June with an attorney representing him. But Mock told the court he wanted to act as his own lawyer before the trial paused last month.

Mock has been charged with four counts related to assaulting law enforcement, including allegations that he shoved two police officers to the ground. He also allegedly took two police riot shields and faces a charge of obstructing an official proceeding.

Mock testified that he moved the shields to keep them from being used by anyone as a weapon. He also testified about fearing his life was in danger shortly before allegedly shoving one officer to the ground. Mock claimed the officer slipped and fell and that he only "touched his shield," though the officer testified in June that he was pushed.

During closing arguments on Tuesday, the prosecution described Mock as not being credible and noted he had been evasive in answering questions while on the stand. Attorneys for the U.S. government relied on ample video evidence to make the case that Mock should be found guilty on all the charges he faces for his actions on Jan. 6.

"He was there for a fight," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jones told the court.

Earlier in the day, Mock criticized prosecutors, claiming some of his past comments featured prominently in the trial were taken out of context. When he made his closing arguments to the judge, Mock portrayed himself as someone who does not have extremist views and pointed out that he was not among the protesters who entered the U.S. Capitol building that day.

"I wasn't there to overthrow the government," Mock said.