WASHINGTON ' A jury convicted a woman on Wednesday who wasarrested during a congressional hearing in January after laughing at the claim that now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions had a record of treating Americans equally.Desiree Fairooz, an activist associated with the organization Code Pink, was found guilty on two counts: one for engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct with the intent to disrupt congressional proceedings and a separate count for parading, demonstrating or picketing.Several jurors who spoke with HuffPost after the verdict emphasized that they were focused on Fairoozs actions after a rookie Capitol Police officer approached Fairooz when she laughed at Sen. Richard Shelbys (R-Ala.) claim that Sessions had a clear, well-documented and extensive record of treating all Americans equally under the law. A group of jurors spoke to HuffPost on the condition of anonymity.She did not get convicted for laughing. It was her actions as she was being asked to leave, the jury foreperson said. Several of the jurors indicated they disagreed with the decision of Capitol Police Officer Katherine Coronado to take her into custody because of the laugh.We did not agree that she should have been removed for laughing, the jury foreperson stated. Some jurors indicated they believed Coronado made a mistake.The officer, she was a rookie officer, and I think it was her first time involved in an arrest, another juror stated. Make of that what you will.The jurors indicated they felt they had to convict Fairooz because of the way the laws are written, with yet another juror describing them asso broad.At least three jurors said it was fair to say they felt forced into convicting her.Theres almost no way that you can find them not guilty, one said.Theres not a lot of wiggle room, said the jury foreperson.Justice Department attorneys claimed during the trial that laughter was enough to merit a criminal charge against Fairooz, asserting thatheads turned around when Fairooz let out what they characterized as a scoff, outburst orburst of laughter. But they mostly focused on how Fairooz acted after she was confronted by the police officers.Why am I being taken out of here' Fairooz asked. I was going to be quiet, and now youre going to have me arrested' For what' Fairooz also referred to Sessions record as evil, Shelbys comment as ridiculous, and appeared to hold up her sign, which could violate the ban on picketing.Another protester escorted out of Sessions hearing. Her original offense appeared to be simply laughing. pic.twitter.com/p6lWzBVFRW Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) January 10, 2017 If Fairooz hadnt said anything on her way out, several jurors said, there would have been a different verdict.Ms. Fairoozs comments as she was being escorted out caused the session to stop, the jury foreperson said. It disrupted the session.Tighe Barry and Lenny Bianchi, whopretended to be KKK members supporting Sessionsand were tried alongside Fairooz, were convicted on two of three charges. The jury found them not guilty of a disruption count because they took action before the hearing was gaveled in.We found them not guilty because the session had not started, that was the core reason, one juror stated.They didnt disrupt anything, they didnt impede the hearing from starting, another said.Barry, Bianchi and Fairooz are all due back in court in June. Jail time is possible because of the statutes they were convicted under, but probably unlikely. Justice Department attorneys David Stier and Jason Covert declined to comment on their sentencing recommendations. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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