Stewart Parks, a local entrepreneur and former candidate to represent Tennessee’s 5th congressional district, joined Monday’s edition of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy to discuss his last-minute plans and overall thoughts before reporting to the Federal Correctional Institution in Memphis on Tuesday to serve an 8-month sentence for being present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
D.C. Circuit Court Judge Amit P. Mehta, who has presided over several trials related to the January 6 Capitol riots, sentenced Parks in November to three years imprisonment on misdemeanor trespassing, disorderly conduct, and theft charges. Parks, however, will serve his sentence concurrently, reducing his term to eight months behind bars.
“I should not be going to prison tomorrow but due to prejudicial and hatred and unjustness, the judge was adamant that I go to prison tomorrow. So, in about 24 hours, as it stands right now, I will be self reporting,” Parks said.
Parks noted that the Obama-appointed judge has been “astounded” with his post-sentencing behavior, specifically his interviews with The Tennessee Star and other media outlets where he has spoken out about what he calls “unjust” treatment by the judicial system.
“The media needs to know what’s happening. So that’s why I’ve been open accepting invitations to come talk with the media because this is just absolutely shocking and unjust,” Park said. “It’s wild. This is stuff you hear in other countries, not the United States. It’s just shocking, it really is. And it’s like the more I talk to the media, the more I bring this to the attention of the public, the judicial elites in DC want to stomp me down even more and hush me up…It’s like they don’t want other defendants to feel emboldened or encouraged by it.”
Parks said the final hours before he reports to prison will include getting resources to his new appellate attorney and spending time with his parents, essentially “stopping the bleeding” of the situation as he noted his chances of not going to prison on Tuesday are “really, really slim.”
Park added that he appreciates the outpouring of support he’s gotten from members of the community ever since the FBI raided his residence on June 3, 2021 at 5:53 a.m., where agents, armed with machine guns and in full body armor, kicked in his door and shattered his windows before perp walking him in front of his neighbors as he was only wearing boxers and gym shorts.
“I appreciate the love. I get so many messages and feedback from the community and I’m so thankful The Tennessee Star allowed me to share updates because I mean, it’s just appalling,” Parks said.
Moving forward, Parks said his upcoming appeal is “really important,” as “every second matters,” while still acknowledging the power of prayer.
“This upcoming appeal is really important because now, every second matters because as it stands right now, even Judge Mehta has acknowledged that my sentence will be taken from eight to six months. So, these courts don’t move fast and there’s a situation that could come where the appeals drag their feet, I get sent before them and by then my prison sentence is already over. So now I’m just fighting for honor, which I still will to the very end. So, as of right now, it’s, you know, times of the essence, prayer. There’s so many wonderful people involved with The Tennessee Star and I appreciate the love and support… You know, with the money raising and stuff, I mean, I don’t know what I can do at this point, I really don’t because like you stated, I have about 24 hours.”
Listen to the full interview in three parts:
Stewart Parks Part 1:
Stewart Parks Part 2:
Stewart Parks Part 3:
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Stewart Parks and Michael Patrick Leahy” by Michael Patrick Leahy.
