D.C. Shadow Senator candidate Pete Ross is scheduled to go before a judge on Thursday morning and ask for jail time as his punishment for being arrested. According to his spokeswoman, Ross will ask that he be immediately remanded to jail to serve the full possible sentence of 90 days. The charge? Obstructing passage on U.S. Capitol grounds. Ross was one of four people arrested in December a protest for the District’s voting rights.
“He plans to refuse any offers of fines or probation as he feels strongly that only through making others — and at times himself — uncomfortable can the District fully be recognized and given full autonomy and voting rights,” said spokeswoman Safiya Simmons, in an email. “And, if elected, he has a plan in place to begin his work behind bars.”
Ross actually first asked for jail time when he appeared in court on Tuesday. But even though attorneys say his request is common in cases of civil disobedience, the request so “literally stunned the judge” she ordered a continuance so Ross’ attorney could provide her with the relevant case law, Simmons said.
And for those of you wondering, a “shadow senator,” while an elected position doesn’t actually wield any voting power in Congress. D.C. has two shadow senators and a shadow representative, who are theoretically ready to stand by and serve should the District gain full representation in Congress.
