Judge Denies Recusal Despite Record of Bias—Medical Urgency Escalates.

We want to update supporters on a critical development in Douglas Vance’s case. On January 14, 2026, Douglas filed a detailed, sworn Motion for Judicial Recusal in federal court. Acting pro se (without an attorney), he laid out a comprehensive record showing why a reasonable observer would question the court’s impartiality. Among the issues raised: • The judge refused to even look at exculpatory evidence, including a 2018 letter from a co-defendant explicitly stating Douglas had no knowledge or involvement. The judge stated on the record: “I don’t need to see it.” • Douglas was punished after voluntarily contacting the FBI to protect an older woman from intimidation — cooperation that later became the basis for retaliation. • The court consistently restricted Douglas’s ability to present a defense while allowing the government’s narrative to go unchallenged. • Douglas was required to wear visible restraints in front of the jury without justification. • At sentencing, the court adopted inflated loss amounts and enhancements despite contradictory evidence, resulting in a 174-month sentence, nearly double the national average for similar non-violent cases. • The judge made hostile statements accusing Douglas of perjury before sentencing was complete, calling his defense “very bogus excuses.” On January 30, 2026, the judge denied the recusal motion, concluding that no bias existed — even while acknowledging all rulings and statements came from the same judge whose conduct was challenged. This denial effectively confirms that the courts will not correct this injustice internally. At the same time, the situation has become a medical emergency. On January 22, 2026, Douglas suffered a stroke while in federal custody. He is now recovering in prison under extreme stress, still fighting his case pro se. The combination of a serious neurological event, prolonged incarceration, and the exhaustion of meaningful court remedies places Douglas at serious risk of permanent harm. Because the judicial system has failed to intervene, executive clemency is now the only remaining path to justice and safety. Douglas’s commutation petition (Case C315066) is currently pending. His case fits precisely within the category of non-violent, over-sentenced defendants harmed by DOJ overreach, trial penalties and lawfare. We are asking supporters to: • Continue sharing this petition • Raise awareness of Douglas’s medical condition and unjust sentence • Call for immediate executive action to prevent irreversible harm This is no longer just a legal issue. It is a matter of life, health, and fundamental fairness. Thank you for standing with Douglas and our family.