FBI arrests one of the first Jan. 6 rioters to break in Capitol: report
One of the first rioters to enter the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to Politico's Kyle Cheney.
In a post via X/Twitter, Cheney reports the arrest comes "2.5 years after they first made contact with" Michael HALTOM, "one of the earliest entrants into the Capitol and part of the mob that chased Officer Goodman."
According to the STATEMENT OF FACTS, "During national news coverage of the aforementioned events, video footage which appeared to be captured on mobile devices of persons present on the scene depicted evidence of violations of local and federal law, including scores of individuals inside the U.S. Capitol building without authority to be there."
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The document notes "records obtained through a search warrant served on Google," show that "a mobile device associated with" HALCOM "was present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021."
The video footage shows HALTOM visibly "gesturing" for fellow rioters to push past "bike rack barricades used by law enforcement to maintain their defensive line," according to the report. "HALTOM himself pushed repeatedly on the West Plaza barricades as police officers attempted to hold them back. Video footage taken from BWC shows MPD officers deploying oleoresin capsicum (“OC”) spray to disperse the crowd, driving several protestors back, but HALTOM and one other protestor remained pressed against the fencing. HALTOM used both hands to push against the bike-rack barricade even as police deployed OC spray directly toward him."
Eventually making his way to the House Speaker's Lobby, footage also shows "visible damage to the door immediately after HALTOM and other rioters repeatedly kicked and struck the door."
As someone in the building was shot while attempting to enter the Speaker’s Lobby, the report adds, "HALTOM was in the adjoining hallway at the time, and he continued into the room immediately afterward.
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Furthermore, the document notes:
After leaving U.S. Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021, HALTOM continued to post on X that violent action was necessary to ensure President Trump remained president, and those that opposed these efforts were traitors. For example, at 8:15 p.m. EST on January 6, 2021, HALTOM responded to a political commentator condemning those who committed violence at the Capitol that day; HALTOM replied, 'Patriots demand regress and you gop pets wanna act high and mighty? When civil war breaks out youll be s**t talking on twitter.' At 11:26 p.m. EST, HALTOM responded to a post from former Vice President Pence thanking U.S. Capitol Police for their actions that day; HALTOM replied, “Youll never work in government again you judas,' followed by a second message, 'Judas, we hate you!'
Read the full document here.
