Mass Black Judge

John Pierce is a high-profile defense attorney representing so many defendants charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that prosecutors claim they haven’t heard from him for at least a week, according to court documents. A staunch anti-vaccine activist, Pierce has been absent from hearings and meetings.

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers lawyer Jay Steinfeldt has long advocated his theory that the riots were staged by government authorities; perhaps this explanation explains why his cases have gone into limbo.

What is John Pierce doing?

Rudy Giuliani and members of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups have sought out attorney Pierce for representation, among them Rudy’s legal practice becoming the subject of much discussion as its critics accused it of exploiting its clients to increase both his profile and wealth, while furthering conservative agenda.

Pierce acknowledged in a recent interview that his firm was in debt and was working to pay back creditors, yet still plans on continuing his work as an attorney.

However, it remains uncertain if Pierce can fulfill that objective as his caseload has come to a standstill since he hasn’t attended court for weeks. According to federal reports, Pierce’s absence is cause for alarm as it requires him to communicate with defendant attorneys regularly. Furthermore, various associates of Pierce have given conflicting accounts regarding his whereabouts: some claimed hospitalization with COVID-19 while others spoke of dehydration and exhaustion as symptoms; his law office number appears disconnected and calls are being diverted directly into voicemail instead.

On August 23 for one of his clients, Pierce did not attend and instead sent Marshall as an alternative representative. At that hearing, Judge Veronica J. Graziano informed Marshall if he did not make contact with Pierce within 48 hours, as all proceedings for which his clients were represented require their presence at all proceedings for them. Marshall later informed the court he had not been able to reach him and suspected COVID-19 had caused this condition to surface in him.

Federal prosecutors have yet to release any details about Pierce, but on August 30 they filed a court document noting his absence on Twitter since August 20th and noting his firm phone number no longer being in service, while Marshall represents several Jan 6 riot participants and now faces state criminal charges related to guardianship scheme allegations.

Where is John Pierce?

Pierce possesses an expansive international arbitration practice, representing private companies and sovereign states alike in complex litigation before some of the world’s most acclaimed arbitral institutions. Additionally, he possesses vast expertise advising clients on arbitration matters covering various subject matters – foreign investments/commercial disputes/joint venture/shareholder issues/enforcing foreign judgments/awards etc.

He is a former Federal prosecutor with extensive experience handling high stakes cases for both the Department of Justice and at a prominent Washington, DC law firm, such as antitrust claims worth $1 billion, corporate investigations, general civil and commercial litigation and whistleblower cases. After leaving government service he has successfully represented domestic and foreign individuals and corporations involved in health care, commercial securities, corruption, export control, tax and whistleblower claims.

Pierce, who made headlines over his controversial legal representation of Capitol riot defendants, continues to represent other right-wing clients in other cases. Along with 17 Capitol riot defendants and Leo Brent Bozell IV (arrested after entering Congress on January 6), he represented various alleged associates of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys groups charged with illegally entering Capitol Hill.

Prosecutors reported in a court filing on August 30 that Ryan Marshall, Pierce’s unlicensed assistant, has been appearing for him in several of the cases related to the riot. Marshall is not licensed as an attorney due to pending felony charges in Pennsylvania and thus took on Pierce’s caseload due to information received from one of his friends that said Pierce was hospitalized with COVID-19 infection and would require ventilation, according to government reports. Marshall informed a judge he took on Pierce’s caseload because one of his friends told him about Pierce being hospitalized with COVID19 infection and consequently taking on her caseload due to one friend having informed him about Pierce being hospitalized and ventilator-assisted. Marshall informed a judge about taking on Pierce’s caseload due to information received from one friend telling him of hospitalization with COVID 19 infection, telling her friend and taking on ventilator assistance due to COVID19 infection reportedly being hospitalized with respiratory symptoms.

Federal prosecutors stated that Marshall cannot ethically or legally represent Pierce’s clients until their whereabouts have been ascertained; they requested the court notify Marshall he is no longer permitted to continue representing them, as well as require that Marshall report any new information on her status immediately to them.

Why is John Pierce missing?

John Pierce, attorney of 17 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, has gone missing. A prominent right-wing lawyer with strong pro-Trump views and close ties to President Donald Trump, Pierce represents 17 clients currently under indictment for their actions on Jan. 6. The Justice Department has warned that Pierce’s absence could jeopardize these cases, with reports alleging he’s hospitalized due to COVID-19 or delaying court appearances with claims that he needs oxygen support while postponing court appearances or postponing court dates due to conflicting claims from clients regarding health concerns about himself or others claiming hospitalization due to breathing aid issues.

Pierce is a former Federal prosecutor who now specializes in complex civil and criminal litigation. He has represented clients involved with health care, financial fraud, commercial securities transactions, government contracts and export controls as well as whistleblower claims. Pierce is known for aggressively advocating his clients’ interests against media or prosecution pressure – not shy about pressing back when necessary!

But on the flip side, he also displayed an affinity for taking on high-profile cases without much chance of success, even to the extent that he was unable to manage them all and his firm closed after allegations of mismanagement.

Pierce was left owing significant sums by creditors when the firm collapsed, leading him to experience difficulty rebuilding his legal practice over the past year. While trying to diversify into politically charged cases as well as more traditional criminal defense work, success hasn’t always come easily.

Last summer, Pierce temporarily represented Kyle Rittenhouse, an 18-year-old charged with shooting two people and wounding another during a civil disturbance in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Pierce was fired due to disagreement over how to manage donations designated for Rittenhouse’s defense.

On Sept. 5, Pierce made his first court appearance since hospitalizing, representing an unlicensed associate who had been appearing for him. While he didn’t specify whether Covid-19 had caused it, he acknowledged he hadn’t felt well lately and promised to “back” in court soon without providing an exact date or timeframe.

When will John Pierce be back?

Pierce’s sudden and mysterious absence and subsequent 12-day hospital stay has cast a bright light on his practice. His conservative rhetoric and tactics attracted clients charged with crimes – many from far-right groups like Proud Boys and Oath Keepers – prompting questions as to whether his political or financial interests could impact their cases in any way.

After Pierce failed to appear for an Aug. 23 hearing, lawyer Ryan Marshall appeared in his place and claimed he was hospitalized with COVID-19, on a ventilator and unresponsive. That story later unraveled – in a filing made by the government they acknowledged his absence while also acknowledging there wasn’t enough information regarding his whereabouts or circumstances surrounding this claim.

At least two defendants in the Capitol Riot trial have dismissed Pierce, and a judge removed him from Kyle Rittenhouse’s case, who stands accused of killing two during an unrest in Kenosha over the nonfatal police shooting of an unarmed black man last summer. Rittenhouse’s family has reported to Pierce that they never received an accurate accounting of donations to his defense fund and believe he mismanaged funds specifically earmarked for them.

Pierce informed NPR in an email that he is “back at the job” following an “extremely chaotic 12 days.” He did not specify any medical problems or COVID; rather he is still working on all Capitol riot cases.

Pierce’s strategy in these 17 Capitol Riot cases appears to focus on his belief that federal prosecutors orchestrated the Jan. 6 riots to discredit Trump supporters, as has been suggested in some far-right circles. Federal prosecutors disagree with him and have provided no supporting evidence. Pierce declined to discuss his legal strategy but stressed the importance of raising his profile to challenge the dominant narrative about the riots; without this action, chances for fair trials almost vanish and “if you don’t speak out then they win”. NPR’s Adam Dreaischbach contributed this report.