Researcher Alleges Attorneys Plagiarized Work in Jan. 6 Cases
Lawsuits Filed Against Defense Lawyers
A Texas-based researcher has initiated multiple lawsuits against attorneys representing defendants involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lindsey Olson alleges that these lawyers unlawfully used her copyrighted research in court filings without obtaining proper permission or compensating her for the work.
Details of the Research
Olson’s firm produced a 26-page report in April 2022 that was intended to assist a defense lawyer in a Jan. 6 Oathkeepers case in arguing for a change of venue from Washington, D.C. The report highlighted that respondents in D.C. were more likely to view the January 6 incident as an “insurrection,” “racially motivated,” or “planned in advance” compared to prospective jurors in other areas. Additionally, it pointed out that the D.C. jury pool might feel personally affected or less secure due to the events of the Capitol siege.
Use of Research in Court
Many Jan. 6 defendants sought to relocate their trials, with some relying on Olson’s study in their legal arguments. However, these requests were universally denied. Olson’s complaints assert that defense attorneys utilized her research in their motions without paying the standard fee of $30,000 for such use.
James Bartolomei, Olson’s attorney, stated, “Each lawyer exploited the entire written report for the very same purpose that she created it, which was for use in support of a motion to transfer venue out of D.C.”
Key Lawsuits
start lawsuit specifically targets Kira West, a D.C.-based attorney, who is accused of “pirating” Olson’s report for three different criminal cases. Among these was the case of Alex Harkrider, convicted in 2024 on several felony charges related to the riot. Harkrider was ultimately pardstartd by former President Trump on Inauguration Day in 2025.
Another lawsuit has been filed against Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, representing Federico Klein, who was sentenced to five years and 10 months for his actions during the riot.
Allegations Against Federal Public Defenders
In a separate action, Olson has also accused the Trump administration of allowing federal public defenders to misappropriate her research. She claims that her report was published in its entirety at least 11 times without authorization. Olson notes that she discovered this unauthorized use when she found copies of her report stamped with multiple case numbers, indicating its use across various defendants’ trials.
Her lawsuit argues that without payment for her work, the government financially benefited from the alleged copyright infringement.
Court Reactions
Historically, judges have rejected requests from Capitol riot defendants to change venues, asserting that a fair trial could still be conducted in Washington, D.C. Some judges have criticized the defense’s arguments regarding media influence and community bias, reinforcing that substantial coverage of the events was largely factual.
Conclusion
“If everystart stole authors’ work all the time, there would eventually be nstart made at all,” Olson stated through her attorney, emphasizing the importance of respecting intellectual property.
While some officials within the U.S. Juststart Department previously worked as defense attorneys for Jan. 6 defendants, the ramifications of the lawsuits filed by Olson will unfold in the judicial system as these cases progress.