On Wednesday, 57-year-old Robert Keith Packer, known as the long-bearded prick wearing the “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt during the insurrection at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty to “parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.” This guilty plea is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of six months in prison. His sentencing date is April 7.
Packer and his antisemitic Duck Dynasty look were quickly identified by people online and in Virginia, where he lives. He was also quickly allowed to remain free while awaiting his trial. The front of Packer’s sweatshirt drew attention for how boldly antisemitic and offensive it was. “Camp Auschwitz,” refers to the infamous Nazi concentration camp located in Poland that reportedly saw the murders more than 1 million men, women, and children (mostly Jews). The shirt featured an illustration of a human skull and the phrase “Work Brings Freedom,” an ignorant antisemitic translation of a sign at the entrance gate to Auschwitz that read “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
WARNING: Holocaust imagery below the fold
While Packer was indeed inside of the Capitol building, trespassing, and participating in what many others were hoping would be the toppling of our government, prosecutors said that the evidence did not show Packer had done much more than he was charged for. According to Law & Crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst told the judge that Packer left the Capitol building after about 20 minutes.
This is the dreaded Auschwitz sign Packer was trying to glorify
Of course, according to prosecutors, Packer was a part of the group that invaded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, and also made their way in search of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office (who is Jewish).
When Packer was arrested, FBI agents reportedly searched his home and “found swastika artwork, a folder titled ‘Whites Only Material,’ and pictures of Hitler and other Nazi imagery.
This begs the question of whether or not the initial reports that Packer might face a maximum of 10 years in prison mean he gave enough information to prosecutors that they felt they could cut this deal. Maybe prosecutors feel they have bigger fish to fry? Law & Crime reports that it is assumed Packer’s other charges, “disorderly conduct and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without authority,” will be dropped before his sentencing hearing.
Packer and his antisemitic Duck Dynasty look were quickly identified by people online and in Virginia, where he lives. He was also quickly allowed to remain free while awaiting his trial. The front of Packer’s sweatshirt drew attention for how boldly antisemitic and offensive it was. “Camp Auschwitz,” refers to the infamous Nazi concentration camp located in Poland that reportedly saw the murders more than 1 million men, women, and children (mostly Jews). The shirt featured an illustration of a human skull and the phrase “Work Brings Freedom,” an ignorant antisemitic translation of a sign at the entrance gate to Auschwitz that read “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
WARNING: Holocaust imagery below the fold
While Packer was indeed inside of the Capitol building, trespassing, and participating in what many others were hoping would be the toppling of our government, prosecutors said that the evidence did not show Packer had done much more than he was charged for. According to Law & Crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst told the judge that Packer left the Capitol building after about 20 minutes.
This is the dreaded Auschwitz sign Packer was trying to glorify
Of course, according to prosecutors, Packer was a part of the group that invaded House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, and also made their way in search of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office (who is Jewish).
When Packer was arrested, FBI agents reportedly searched his home and “found swastika artwork, a folder titled ‘Whites Only Material,’ and pictures of Hitler and other Nazi imagery.
This begs the question of whether or not the initial reports that Packer might face a maximum of 10 years in prison mean he gave enough information to prosecutors that they felt they could cut this deal. Maybe prosecutors feel they have bigger fish to fry? Law & Crime reports that it is assumed Packer’s other charges, “disorderly conduct and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without authority,” will be dropped before his sentencing hearing.