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Did CNN and NBC pay 'insurrectionist' John Sullivan $70K for Capitol riot video? Internet says 'shut them down'

Sullivan, who describes himself as a video journalist 'documenting the front lines of protest happening around the world', founded Insurgence USA during the George Floyd riots last year

Court documents filed by left-wing filmmaker John Sullivan's attorneys have claimed that CNN and NBC each paid  $35,000 for his footage of the violence during the Capitol riot that took place on January 6, according to the latest reports.

Sullivan's defense attorney filed invoices with the court that proved CNN and NBC each paying Sullivan's firm $35,000 last month for the video rights to the video he filmed during the riots. 

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According to the report, a federal magistrate judge allowed Sullivan to keep Twitter and Facebook accounts, “but ordered him to end his involvement with a business he founded that the Justice Department says promotes and glorifies violent protests.”

However, prosecutors contend that Sullivan actively participated in the riot. His own videos provide evidence of that as the footage includes him wedding people on, encouraging violence and yelling, "we did this together" and "let's burn this s**t down". Apart from that, reports also add that he is seen telling viewers how to make Molotov cocktails and evade identification by police.

 He was arrested and charged last month on charges for his involvement in the riot, including interfering with police during a civil disorder. At a hearing on Tuesday, February 16, afternoon on Sullivan’s release conditions, Washington-based Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather said, "I am rejecting the broader prohibition on Twitter and Facebook and encrypted social media platforms,” also ordering that the Utah man be taken off of 24-hour location monitoring via GPS.

At the same time, he said that Sullivan "is to no longer work for Insurgence USA," will have his internet use monitored by probation officials and will be banned from using any social media platforms to incite riots, violent protests armed conflict or violence. Sullivan is reportedly also under home detention.

Sullivan, who describes himself as a video journalist "documenting the front lines of protest happening around the world", founded Insurgence USA during the George Floyd riots last year. An online fundraiser says the group wants to build local power to enable the community to "intervene in violence enacted by the state and government vigilantes".

He had become a controversial figure around the riots as he described himself as an opponent of Trump supporting Black Lives Matter, but BLM activists in Utah have reportedly disowned him. 

After waiting for two weeks, Twitter banned Sullivan’s account. But the update about news channels paying for his footage has angered social media users with many calling out his Antifa connections. "CNN & NBC paid an 'insurrectionist' John Earl Sullivan $35,000 A PIECE for video footage of the Capitol insurrection. Sullivan just so happened to be the leader of an Antifa & BLM group 'Insurgence USA' at the Capitol. What makes the media friendly to this 'insurrectionist?'" one questioned.

"What's happening with @CNN and @NBCNews links to John Sullivan? Isn't he one of the "insurrectionists" that was paid by the aforementioned News Networks? Isn't he also ANTIFA?" another tweeted. 

But some still pointed to clarify, that it is "important to distinguish that he was paid for use of his videos, afterward, not that he was paid to be there or stir shit up." One user pointed out how it doesn't come as shocking since CNN's Anderson Cooper had interviewed Sullivan after the protests. "I just can’t believe it," they sarcastically said while sharing a screengrab of the interview. 

Social media users demanded the shutting down of the networks. "We should show CNN and ABC that we don't like the fact that they fund terrorists John Sullivan! We should buy their stock and short sell them into bankruptcy! It long over do that there held accountable for their news and their trash that they put out there!" Another added, "CNN interviewed John Sullivan on the same night he led an insurgent riot on the Capitol. Shut down CNN!"