OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A man currently sitting in a Washington DC prison has written a harrowing letter about his experiences there.
A man from Las Vegas, Nevada, Nathaniel DeGrave, penned the letter and sent it to Jim Hoft of “The Gateway Pundit” referring to himself and others as political prisoners.
It is important to note that the Department of Justice paints another picture of Degrave.
One in which it charged him with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Impeding Passage Through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building.
But the only thing he was seen doing was being inside the Capitol, not committing any act of violence, his attorney, Joanne Slaight, argued in court in March when she asked for him not to remain behind bars prior to a trial, News 8 Now reported.
“With a lack of prior convictions, I would say that he is not a danger to the community,“ she said. “He’s certainly apologetic and profusely apologetic about what happened, and this is totally out of character from everything about his background in his 31 years and I would ask that he be released in the case as soon as possible.”
And Degrave made the same argument in his letter to Hoft, but federal prosecutors said at his hearing that they do have evidence of him assaulting a law enforcement officer.
His letter, in part, reads as follows:
I never thought I’d write a letter like this, but we’re living in very different times. This is my cry for help.
My name is Nathan DeGrave, and as a nonviolent participant at the Jan 6th rally, I’ve spent the last 9 months detained as a political prisoner in pod C2B at the DC DOC…otherwise known as DC’s Gitmo.
The conditions here for Jan 6ers have been inhumane. In fact, some inmates are even begging to be transferred to GUANTANAMO BAY, where even THEY have more acceptable standards.
Class action LAWSUITS are being filed against this prison; and even the ACLU has gotten involved. Senators Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene have since attempted to gain access to this facility and inspect the conditions of the jail, only to be denied.
The vile filth of what has become our daily life is being illegally HIDDEN from the members of OUR OWN CONGRESS.
So…let me tell you about what me and many of the other Jan 6ers have been experiencing in DC’s Gitmo. It is my hope that with MEDIA EXPOSURE and the awareness of the American public, that SOMETHING may be done and this never happens to anyone ever again.
OUR CONDITIONS
For the first 120 days in DC’s Gitmo, Jan 6ers experienced DAILY LOCKDOWNS for 23-24 HOURS before being allowed to leave our small 120 sq. ft cell. The PHYSICAL and MENTAL ANGUISH that results from this kind of SEVERE ISOLATION has caused many people to go on a RAPID mental decline.
As a result, a large percentage of us are HEAVILY MEDICATED with anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs, which helps to cope with the psychological and mental ABUSE we endure.
Many times, the little rec we DO receive is STRIPPED AWAY if our cell isn’t up to the standards of the guard on duty. This changes from day to day. Jan 6ers have lost rec time and out of cell activity ANY TIME news interviews about the jail are aired on TV, people speak up about our conditions, or rallies are held in our name. We’ll probably have a lockdown upon the publishing of this letter. So I have already warned those I know in advance..
Masks are WEAPONIZED and used against us, even though we NEVER leave the facility. Officers have walked in with the SOLE INTENTION of needing to write 20-30 disciplinary reports against Jan 6ers, which adversely effects our chances of release and causes loss of privileges, phone time and commissary. Masks need to be covering both the nose and mouth AT ALL TIMES or we are threatened and locked down in our cells. Jan 6ers are always respectful to the employees around us, but C.Os maintain the need to invent reasons for discipline.
The rest of his letter can be read at The Gateway Pundit.
