Timcast IRL · September 22, 2020 · 2h 0m

Timcast IRL #137 - Trump Supporter Commits Suicide After Killing BLM Rioter In Self Defense, Cassandra Fairbanks Joins

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Episode Recap

In Timcast IRL Episode 137, Tim Pool and co-host Ian Crossland were joined by Cassandra Fairbanks to discuss the tragic case of Jake Gardner, a small business owner who shot and killed a Black Lives Matter rioter in self-defense, was subsequently indicted on serious charges, and reportedly took his own life. Tim described writing about the story as emotionally devastating, stating he was sobbing while covering it. The discussion detailed how Gardner's bar in Omaha was attacked by protesters, his father was assaulted by a 70-year-old man who was decked by the attacker, and Gardner showed a weapon while warning attackers to back away. When they continued to advance and knocked him to the ground, he fired warning shots before being attacked from behind, at which point he shot and killed James Scurlok. Despite the original district attorney determining it was clear self-defense, protesters targeted the DA's home with threats, leading to a special prosecutor being hired who brought charges carrying up to 95 years. The tragedy intensified when a GoFundMe for his defense was shut down while funds were raised for rioters. Cassandra Fairbanks then shared her personal experience of being doxxed during the DC church burning incident, with her address and phone number posted online leading to rioters shooting commercial fireworks at her house and banging on her windows. The conversation touched on how media ran cover for the attackers by claiming her story was fabricated, contrasted with her neighbors confirming the attack occurred. Technical difficulties plagued the stream as the hosts struggled with microphone issues throughout the discussion.

TL;DR

  • →Jake Gardner, a small business owner, killed a BLM rioter in self-defense after being attacked and was subsequently indicted on charges including terroristic threats despite clearly retreating and firing warning shots
  • →The DA originally ruled it self-defense but caved to pressure when protesters threatened his home, hiring a special prosecutor who brought charges carrying up to 95 years
  • →Gardner reportedly committed suicide before turning himself in, having lost his business, apartment, and custody of his children while a GoFundMe for his defense was shut down
  • →Cassandra Fairbanks revealed she was doxxed during the DC church burning, her address posted online after subpoenas related to Julian Assange conversations, leading rioters to attack her home with fireworks
  • →Media and allies attempted to discredit Fairbanks' account by claiming to have talked to neighbors who denied the incident, but neighbors later confirmed it happened
  • →The hosts discussed how the case represents a broader pattern of self-defense being criminalized while rioters receive preferential treatment in funding and legal treatment
  • →Technical difficulties with microphones persisted throughout the stream, with hosts working from a remote location in the mountains
  • →The conversation emphasized how easily one's life can be destroyed simply for defending oneself or property during riots

Key Moments

  • 0:00
    Opening and Jake Gardner Introduction
    Tim introduces Cassandra Fairbanks and transitions to discussing the Jake Gardner case, expressing emotional difficulty covering the story
  • 3:40
    Gardner Case Details
    Deep dive into the facts: Gardner's bar being attacked, his father's assault, warning shots, and the fatal confrontation
  • 9:00
    Indictment and Legal Analysis
    Discussion of how the case was mishandled, how protesters pressured the DA, and the 95-year maximum sentence Gardner faced
  • 14:00
    Tragic Outcome
    Gardner's suicide is revealed, along with details about losing his business, apartment, children, and the shut down GoFundMe
  • 22:00
    Cassandra Fairbanks Doxxing Story
    Fairbanks shares her personal experience being doxxed and attacked during DC riots after her address was posted online
  • 35:00
    Media Complicity Discussion
    How mainstream media ran cover for the people who terrorized Fairbanks by claiming she fabricated her story
  • 45:00
    Broader Pattern Analysis
    The hosts discuss how self-defense is being criminalized while rioters receive preferential treatment
  • 60:00
    Technical Issues Continue
    Ongoing microphone problems throughout the stream as hosts work remotely from an undisclosed location

Notable Quotes

“I cover terrible things and tragedy and things that really upset me. But this one hit me in a completely different way. I mean, I was sobbing while I wrote it.”

— Tim Pool · opening discussion about emotional toll of covering Jake Gardner case

“He fired two warning shots, two guys run off, dude jumps on his back, and then he switches the gun to his left hand reaches over and fires shooting the dude in the clavicle killing him. They took everything from this guy.”

— Tim Pool · describing the confrontation and aftermath for Gardner

“They came to your house. And then their allies and media desperately tried to claim you made it up. They were like, oh, they just shot fireworks down the street. They claimed to have talked to my neighbors said that it didn't happen when in reality... neighbors were like no, we didn't talk to him, he made it up.”

— Cassandra Fairbanks · describing how media ran cover for her attackers

“The craziest thing about the indictment of this guy is that they claimed that it was the use of a firearm while committing a felony. And the felony was terroristic threats. And the terroristic threats were him saying, don't do it back away.”

— Tim Pool · analysis of the absurd charges against Gardner

“They were threatening me. They were threatening my child. And I was pretty nervous about it, but I had gotten this kind of stuff a lot before. So I was like, whatever, it'll be fine.”

— Cassandra Fairbanks · describing her initial reaction to the threats before her home was attacked

“Go fund me shut his defense down. Yep. But you can raise all the bail money you want for rioters, Kamala Harris can ask for bail money for the rioters. This is why we're in the middle of nowhere.”

— Tim Pool · critique of unequal treatment in fundraising for legal defense

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