Sunday, January 31, 2021

Capitol Hill Riots: Section Six

Andrew C. Erickson: The affidavit for arrest reads: “A male by the name of ANDREW ERICSON was in the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021.” It was believed that “ERICSON resided in Muskogee, Oklahoma.” 

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None were heard to shout, “Hang Matt Gaetz!”

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That affidavit further reads: 

Witness 1 also saw ERICSON enter what witness one thinks is Nancy Pelosi’s office and take what appeared to be a beer out of a refrigerator in an office….Witness 1 stated IT did not see any violent acts committed by Andrew Erickson but noted that IT (Witness 1) did hear Erickson screaming and yelling during the live stream.

 

The tipster further explained that he or she had known the suspect since high school. The witness also told an agent he or she was “1,000% certain of the identity” of the alleged rioter. 

Ericson was soon arrested and made a first court appearance. He was released on bail, but had to surrender his passport and any guns he might own. 

(No other information seems to be available, regarding his political affiliation. His desire to visit the office of Speaker Pelosi, however, is a good “tell,” as they say in poker. So far, this blogger has not found any evidence that rioters stormed the office of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. None were heard to shout, “Hang Matt Gaetz!” We do know one rioter could be heard on video saying he thought Sen. Ted Cruz would approve of he and other rioters being in the Senate chamber.) 

* 

Damon Michael Beckley: During the riot Beckley gave an interview, explaining why he and others were there. “We aren’t putting up with this tyrannical rule. If we’ve got to come back here and start a revolution and take all of these traitors down, which is what should be done, then we will.” 

At one point, he is allegedly seen in a video, trying to calm down a crowd of about a hundred, before they enter Statuary Hall. “We can go into this room if we all calm down. And if we commit to no violence, OK?” he said through a bullhorn. 

Beckley later told WDRB News he deleted his Facebook account and removed the SIM card from his phone out of fear the F.B.I. could soon arrest and charge him. 

He was right. They did. 

He was released on bail after his first court appearance, but may not use the internet to post about the rally or “matters related to the U.S. government.” He is also prohibited from attending any rallies, protests, or demonstrations. 

* 

Craig Michael Bingert: Authorities say that Bingert worked with other protesters to break through police lines. In scenes from January 6, he is seen carrying an American flag, and wearing a stocking cap with the word “America” in white. 

(Merchandise sales had to be good for this rally.) 

In one video, he allegedly turns around to look at the crowd behind him. The chant, “F--- the police!” can be heard. 

TNonline.com notes, “According to social media posts, Bingert is a graduate of the criminal justice program at Lehigh Carbon Community College and attended the State Police Academy.”

 


You can't blame any handful of individuals for leading this riot in the attack.

* 

Thomas Gallagher: CBS News in Boston describes Gallagher’s arrest and the reasons for it: 

According to the criminal complaint, Capitol Police say 61-year-old Thomas Gallagher was among those in a crowd, “…making loud noises, and kicking chairs, throwing an unknown liquid substance at officers, and spraying an unknown substance…” Police say he was at the front of the group, and “…willfully refused the order to leave.”

 

FBI agents tracked Gallagher down in the tiny picturesque town of Bridgewater, New Hampshire, and arrested him at his home. The word spread through the peaceful Newfound Lake region, about its link to the violent chaos hundreds of miles away.

 

“They’re good neighbors,” said Chris Dyer. “Definitely surprised to hear the news.”

 

“I think it’s disgraceful that somebody believes Trump and consequently believes that gives them empowerment to invade the capitol,” said another Bridgewater resident, Richard Lobban. “It’s disgraceful.” 

* 

Chad Barrett Jones: Jones was charged with assaulting an officer and allegedly seen in one video, striking a window at least ten times, in an effort to break into the Speaker’s Lobby. 

A DOJ release gives more detail: 

The affidavit in support of criminal complaint alleges that video footage from inside the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, shows Jones in a red hooded jacket and gray skullcap among an aggressive crowd trying to breach a barricaded door to the Speaker’s Lobby, a hallway that connects to the House of Representatives chambers.  Members of the crowd were shouting and gesticulating at the Capitol Police officers guarding the door. Seconds after the officers began moving toward the adjacent wall as other officers in tactical gear arrived, Jones forcefully struck the door’s glass panels at least 10 times with a long, wood flagpole, the affidavit alleges. The affidavit also alleges that chants of “Break it down!” could be heard, and that a U.S. Capitol Police officer inside the Speakers’ Lobby, facing the door with a gun raised, can be seen at the side of the video in the close vicinity of the doorway. 

 

It’s probably no surprise to learn that the flagpole Jones was wielding was wrapped in a rolled up “Trump” flag. 

* 

Nicolas Moncada: age 20, was taken into custody after he livestreamed participation in the assault on the Capitol. A neighbor, commenting on his arrest, after authorities showed up at his home, described him as “a wonderful kid.” 

Moncada was allegedly photographed outside Speaker Pelosi’s office. 

“For those still thinking of employing violence to interfere with our Nation’s laws and institutions,” a Department of Justice news release warned, “our message is simple don’t do it.” 

* 

Joshua Matthew Black: Black can be seen in pictures and videos from the riot, wearing a Trump/Pence 2020 hat. 

You could call that ironic, since court records allege that this is what he said in one of those videos: “Once we found out Pence turned on us and that they had stolen the election, like officially, the crowd went crazy. I mean, it became a mob. We crossed the gate.” 

According to a report in Alabama Political Reporter, Black admitted that he had been shot by an officer with some kind of projectile, which went through his left cheek. Black was not there for violence, however.

 

Black said on the video that he attempted to help an officer who was alone and had been knocked down and was being beaten by other rioters when he was shot. 

 

“He was on the ground and there was boots coming down,” Black said, referring to the officer being beaten.  

 

Black stopped discussing what happened for a moment to say he’d recently seen a video of Trump denouncing the rioters. 

 

“I just saw a video from Trump, that said we were heinous or something like that. I guess the hopes of getting a pardon are out the window,” Black said. 

 

According to the affidavit filed against him, Black is allegedly seen explaining his thinking in a video from Jan. 6: 

The Individual later said, “We just wanted to get inside the building. I wanted to get inside the building so I could plead the blood of Jesus over it. That was my goal.”

 

…This individual also said that, once inside the Capitol, he “found a little spot, and there was a glass door, and it said ‘US Senate’ on it. I said I need to get in there. I just felt like the spirit of God wanted me to go in the Senate room, you know. So I was about to break the glass and I thought, no, this is our house, we don’t act like that. I was tempted to, I’m not gonna lie. Cause I’m pretty upset. You know? They stole my country.” Later, describing what he did once inside the Senate chamber, the Individual stated, “I had accomplished my goal. I pled the blood of Jesus on the Senate floor. You know. I praised the name of Jesus on the Senate floor. That was my goal. I think that was God’s goal.”

 

Black did admit that after he left D.C., he shaved his beard to disguise himself a little. “I’ve actually been wearing a mask, and not for COVID but for not going to jail,” he added.  

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