Utah Jazz legend John Stockton has willingly placed himself in controversy once again, writing a letter to a federal judge in support of a woman who was involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Janet Buhler, the woman receiving support from Stockton, pled guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building and is reportedly facing up to six months in prison. Buhler was originally charged with five misdemeanors for her involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, but the additional counts were dropped in her plea deal.
According to Stockton’s letter, Buhler is the wife of former Jazz team chiropractor Craig Buhler. The 10 time NBA All-Star categorized Dr. Craig Buhler as one of his closest friends, adding that he’s known the chiropractor’s wife for 17 years.
“Janet Buhler is one of the kindest people I have ever known,” Stockton wrote. “She has spent a lifetime helping her family, including her husband, care for their patients. She goes to church regularly, volunteers at the homeless shelter, and teaches music endlessly, piano and violin, to children in her own home.”
“I have never heard her raise her voice, or confront anyone. In fact, she is quite reserved,” Stockton continued. “She is intelligent and good company. I frankly cannot imagine that Janet could knowingly break the law, nor be involved in anything destructive, ever, no matter the situation. In my opinion, Janet Buhler is a quality person of high character.”
The letter shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise for Stockton, who has publicly aligned with right-wing causes in the last year, criticizing COVID-19 restrictions and speaking out against the vaccine. The NBA Hall-of-Famer has even repeatedly made the absolutely ridiculous claim that hundreds of professional athletes have dropped dead on the field after receiving a COVID vaccine.
Just to clarify, more than 95 percent of NBA, NHL and NFL players opted to get vaccinated against COVID, with MLB being less boastful about their numbers. And as most sensical people are already aware, not one of them died on the court, ice or field after getting vaccinated.
