A January 6 defendant pleads his case to the son who reported him

“That push is what stands out,” AJ told Brian, back at the kitchen table in Wisconsin.

“Can I explain, though?” Brian asked, and soon he played more videos from January 6 on his computer, once again trying to put his actions into context so AJ could understand. He showed a video of police officers firing ammunition into the growing crowd. He showed a video of an older woman in an American flag sweatshirt repeatedly walking up the stairs toward the police barricade at 2:27 p.m., before being pepper-sprayed and pushed back down the stairs by an officer. “Everyone’s pissed off right now,” Brian said. “From now on it’s a fight.”

He began playing another video from 2:34 p.m., showing Brian in the seconds before he pushed Karlsen’s riot shield. During the trial, Karlsen testified that he was in the process of retreating from the crowd, and that he backed up toward a staircase with debris under his feet. He looked down for a split second to check his balance, and then Brian took advantage and pushed him. But now Brian told AJ a completely different story: that he heard Karlsen threaten to shoot him, and that when Karlsen turned his head, Brian thought he was looking for his gun. The attack was a spontaneous act of self-defense, Brian said.

“It’ll be a high pitched sound, but listen for him to say, ‘Or I’ll shoot,’” Brian said.

He played the video and looked at AJ, but AJ shook his head. All he heard was a muffled echo above the roar of the crowd. “Try again,” AJ said. He wanted to hear it. He wanted to align his version of reality with his father’s. He leaned toward the laptop as Brian played the video for the second time, then the third time.

“Or should I shoot?” Brian asked, looking at his son, hoping for absolution. “Can you hear anything about that?”

“No. Not really,” said AJ.

‘But do you believe what I tell you? Do you understand?”

AJ studied his father from across the table, looking for some kind of bridge. He believed that his father was sincere. He believed that Brian loved his country and his children and wanted the best for both. But AJ also believed that some events could not be rationalized – they were real or imagined, right or wrong – and any meaningful reconciliation had to start from a place of responsibility and truth.

“I understand why you were found guilty of the coercion,” he said.

“Yes, I pushed the shield,” Brian said, nodding. They sat together for a while in consultation, but then Brian picked up his computer again.

Audio produced by Adrienne Hurst.