Staff Reports
In a recent episode of investigative journalist Lara Logan’s show, “The Rest of the Story with Lara Logan,” she shared the tragic tale of Matthew Perna, a defendant from the January 6th Capitol riot who ultimately took his own life. Perna’s relative revealed that he had been pushed to such a desperate act due to the relentless harassment from Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
The treatment of Perna and other January 6th defendants stands in stark contrast to the lenient approach taken towards left-wing rioters of the BLM and Antifa movements. These individuals, responsible for the destruction of a federal courthouse in Portland in 2020 and the injury of around 140 federal officers, were given “deferred resolution agreements” that essentially allowed them to escape criminal records if they stayed out of trouble for a certain period. It’s clear that there is a clear double standard at play here.
According to Logan, Perna was just one of the millions of Americans who expressed doubt about the 2020 election results and chose to exercise his right to protest peacefully in Washington. Yet he found himself facing charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of Congress, which could have resulted in 20 years in prison and a hefty fine. It’s hard not to see the punishment as disproportionate to his alleged crimes.
Perna’s close friend Markus Priester shared the toll the charges took on him in the days leading up to his tragic end. He described Perna’s struggle to speak and breathe, his difficulty sleeping, and even coughing up blood. It’s clear that the relentless pressure placed on Perna by the DOJ had a devastating impact on his well-being.
Perna’s aunt, Geri Perna, spoke out about the heartbreak her nephew experienced. She expressed how the country he loved had let him down, and its citizens, media, and government had all played a role in destroying him. It’s a sobering reminder of the power and influence the government holds over its citizens, and the responsibility it has to treat everyone fairly and justly.
Matthew Perna was a Bernie Sanders fan until Trump came along. Then he was treated as a terrorist.
Find out how a man who’d never been in trouble in his life ended up on the FBI wanted list after January 6th. pic.twitter.com/e05pfKoUOJ
— Truth In Media (@Truth_InMedia) September 14, 2023
In his suicide note, Perna lamented the sacrifice he felt he had made on January 6th and the despair that led him to take his own life. It is a tragic end to a life that was undoubtedly affected by the tumultuous events of that day and the subsequent legal proceedings.
The story of Matthew Perna serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from a flawed justice system and partisan persecution. It is a call for fairness, compassion, and a genuine commitment to justice that transcends political biases.
