POWER OF THE PEN

NBA Hall of Famer Writes Letter in Support of Capitol Insurrection Attendee

John Stockton has embraced right wing causes recently, including the anti-vaccine movement.

John Stockton, former Utah Jazz star and NBA Hall of Famer, wrote to a federal judge to advocate for a Utah woman who attended the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Janet Buhler, the wife of a former Jazz chiropractor, pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building and is facing up to six months in prison. Stockton wrote that Buhler, 56, is “one of the kindest people I have ever known” and lauded her for being an exemplary wife, Christian, and volunteer. The purpose of the letter, Stockton said, was to be “helpful in assessing the high-quality character of Janet Buhler,” whom he doubted would “knowingly break the law.” In recent months, Stockton has embraced right-wing causes, including the anti-vaccine movement. He reportedly called the pharmaceutical companies that produced COVID-19 vaccines “serious felons.”