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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV UPDATE US JAN 6 INMATE PALMER
HEADLINE: Jan. 6th Jailhouse Interview: ‘I Just went there on the advice of the President’
TEASER: VOA exclusive interview with Robert Palmer: Why he will not again vote for Trump as he serves prison time for the January 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection
PUBLISHED AT: 7/19/2022 AT 1:40PM
BYLINE: Carolyn Presutti
CONTRIBUTOR: Lynn Davis
DATELINE: Washington; Clearwater, FL
VIDEOGRAPHER: Saqib Ul Islam, Mohammed Hameed, Mike Burke
VIDEO EDITOR: Mary Cieslak
SCRIPT EDITORS: Bowman, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, US Justice Dept, YouTube, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X __ RADIO __X
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: This story was first released in March. It has been updated for for use with the Jan 6 hearings.))
((ANCHOR INTRO))
[[Of more than 840 people charged so far for participating in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, one man has received the longest sentence – more than five years. As the first January 6 inmate to speak out from jail, Robert Palmer talked exclusively to VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti. ]]
((January 6, 2021))
((NARRATOR))
((NARRATOR))
This is Robert Palmer, spraying and throwing a fire extinguisher at US Capitol police.
[[RADIO: “the fire extinguisher was right there at my feet. I didn’t go searching for it. It was literally right by my feet.” That is Robert Palmer who sprayed US Capitol Police with the fire extinguisher. He then heaved the empty canister at them. He did the same with a wooden plank.]]
((nats))
((NARRATOR))
And later, with this wooden plank.
“Yeah, that was not a wise decision. It was a horrible decision.”
((NARRATOR))
((show him then WS of Palmer on video, Bjorn, and Carolyn))
This is Robert Palmer from jail -- in an exclusive interview with VOA from his attorney’s office in Florida.
[[RADIO: Robert Palmer agreed to an exclusive interview with VOA. He is on a video monitor at his attorney’s office in Florida. Palmer wears an orange prisoner V-neck tunic with a long sleeve white undershirt and orange pants. “Thanks for joining VOA today.” His hair is long and greying with an unkept mustache and beard. “You’re welcome, Carolyn” ]]
((Nats of Carolyn then Palmer))
“Thanks for joining VOA today.”
“You’re welcome, Carolyn”
((NARRATOR))
((January 6, 2021))
On January 6 of last year, Palmer joined the mob on the U.S. Capitol steps, intent on stopping the certification of Joe Biden as president. He is not a known member of any right wing or anti-government group. He says he is just a regular guy protesting an election.
((Nats of Carolyn then Palmer))
“Did you know you were assaulting Capitol Police officers?”
“To be honest it didn’t really enter my mind.”
((Robert Palmer, January 6th Inmate))
“When you are in that situation with so many people around who are doing the same thing that you are and they are yelling the same things you believe, it’s difficult to do the right thing.”
((NARRATOR))
After he threw another wooden pole, police shot him with rubber bullets, and he had this to say.
[[Radio: Police shot Palmer with rubber bullets after he hurled a wooden pole at them, aimed like a javelin. On Taylor Brown’s YouTube channel, he points to his bare belly where the bullet bounced off him, leaving a large red circle.]]
((courtesy Taylor Brown Never Stops))
((Mandatory YouTube))
((Robert Palmer, January 6th Inmate))
“This is the United States of America, this is what the country is doing to its citizens.”
((NARRATOR))
Palmer pleaded guilty to assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon. He received the highest sentence so far – 63 months -- more than five years.
((Photos / stills courtesy US Department of Justice))
((Robert Palmer, January 6th Inmate))
“It’s my own fault, I’m not blaming anybody, it’s all on me.
((NARRATOR))
Palmer still believes the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, a claim found false in more than 60 U.S. courts. As a convicted felon, Palmer cannot vote. But would he ever vote for Trump again?
((Robert Palmer, January 6th Inmate))
“No, No”
[[Presutti]] “And why not?”
“I think that Donald Trump is a narcissist, and he was just out for him.”
((NAT TRUMP from ellipse rally))
((January 6 2021))
((NARRATOR))
Palmer says at this earlier rally near the White House, President Trump inspired him and others to attack the Capitol.
[[RADIO: Palmer says at an earlier rally near the White House, these words by President Trump inspired him and others to attack the Capitol.]]
((January 6, 2021
((President Donald Trump))
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol”
((NARRATOR))
More than 840 have been charged in the siege of the Capitol. More than 335 (337) like Palmer, have pleaded guilty to lesser charges — for a decision that will leave a mark for years.
((Robert Palmer, January 6th Inmate))
“For the rest of my life for the remainder of my life on this earth, wherever I go, there's going to be people who are going to shun me, that are going to you know, have negative thoughts of me because of what I did.”
((Carolyn Presutti, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsPolitics, Crime, Law and Justice
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 19, 2022 13:38 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
