Defense Attorney John Pierce speaks during an extradition hearing for Kyle Rittenhouse in Lake County court in Waukegan, Ill., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo, Pool)
A lawyer representing 17 clients who were allegedly involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach released a statement Tuesday saying reports he went missing are false.
John Pierce, who is based in California, issued a lengthy comment to The Gateway Pundit saying he was hospitalized for 12 days and has recovered. Pierce later confirmed to The Epoch Times on Tuesday that he released the statement.
Court filings that were submitted last month by acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips said that about 20 cases related to the Jan. 6 incident haven’t proceeded after Pierce didn’t show up, alleging that he was “reportedly ill” with COVID-19 and on a ventilator. A law firm associate who isn’t a licensed lawyer appeared in Pierce’s place during court hearings and proceedings, according to the filings.
“Unfortunately, it seems that Mr. Pierce may be hospitalized and unable to communicate, and it is unclear when Mr. Pierce will recover,” prosecutors wrote in the filing.
Pierce, however, said that he was released from a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sept. 5 after a 12-day stay.
“I was not ‘missing’ or anything of the sort. I am greatly appreciative of the many expressions of prayer and support,” he said in a statement. “And I am deeply grateful for the amazing care I received from the doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for me.”
Police release tear gas into a crowd during clashes at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
Pierce then said that during his recovery, he will not partake in a full-time schedule until Sept. 13, and that “next week, I expect to be fully operational.”
Based on the statement, it’s not clear why Pierce was hospitalized. However, he stated that “I have not taken any vaccination for COVID-19, nor do I plan to do so.”
A colleague of Pierce’s, Brody Womack, told Business Insider that the lawyer may have been exhausted and dehydrated due to his continual work for his clients. The reports of Pierce’s absence drew some concern from several of his clients, including alleged Proud Boys member Paul Rae.
“Unless I’m being lied to, I’m hearing ‘Don’t be concerned,’” Rae told ABC News. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
Several months ago, Pierce was one of several lawyers who raised the alarm about how dozens of the Jan. 6 defendants were being treated while in a federal jail in the District of Columbia, saying that they were being confined 23 hours per day, had a lack of medical care, and had restricted access to their legal counsel.
Pierce told Epoch TV in July that the defendants are being detained by federal judges under the 1984 Bail Reform Act, which authorizes pretrial detention if it’s believed the individuals are a threat to the community or a flight risk.
“There are about 50 plus or minus that are being detained, that have been in prison for months and will likely remain in prison for many more months until their day in court,” Pierce said.
Jack Phillips
SENIOR REPORTER
Jack Phillips is a reporter at The Epoch Times based in New York.