These Are The Rioters Arrested At The Capitol

They got here from across the nation — a 60-year-old from northern Pennsylvania, a tattoo artist from Illinois. There have been members of a neo-Accomplice and militant teams, a medical skilled, an organizer of a Trump boat parade, and a person convicted of tried first-degree homicide.

Every one in all them got here to DC as a result of, their social media posts present, they believed the identical lie: They have been true patriots who have been heeding President Donald Trump’s name to maintain him in energy, by storming the Capitol and stopping Joe Biden’s certification because the presidential election winner.

As a substitute, all of them bought arrested.

Greater than 80 individuals have been charged in Wednesday’s rebellion. Whereas some have been well-known white supremacists, QAnon believers, and a newly elected West Virginia lawmaker — whose actions inside the Capitol caught the world’s consideration in viral images and movies — many weren’t as excessive profile.

A BuzzFeed Information evaluation of their social media posts reveals the disturbing extent to which the president of america inspired and validated his most ardent supporters’ fringe beliefs and conspiracy theories along with his lies, emboldening them to take their anger out on those that stood in his method.

They shared posts echoing Trump’s fixed bullshit a couple of “stolen election” and conspiracy theories about voter fraud. Some confirmed a passionate hatred for antifa, Congress, and Democrats, particularly Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A number of have been radicalized by QAnon — the mass delusion that Trump has implicitly endorsed.

“Nothing can cease what’s coming,” Zandra Sixkiller-Cramer tweeted greater than per week earlier than she was arrested after the lethal assault on the Capitol. She mentioned was ready to “struggle.”

In a tweet on Dec. 29, she objected to the COVID-19 restrictions in Washington, DC, saying, “They suppose they’ll cease US from exhibiting up on the Capitol on Jan 6 to #StopTheSteal #Treason Nothing Can Cease What Is Coming #FightForTrump #FightLikeAFlynn #PatriotParty.”

And Sixkiller-Cramer adopted by, spurred by the damaging and delusional lies. She was arrested and charged with illegal entry.

Most who have been arraigned on Thursday weren’t from the town. A majority have been charged for illegal entry and violating the curfew, however some have been charged with illegal possession of a weapon or assaulting an officer. A person who had attended the riot had brass knuckles on him when he was arrested; a number of others had weapons and ammunition, many with out licenses. One younger man was charged with assaulting an officer with a “hockey or lacrosse stick.” Those that have been arraigned on Thursday afternoon all pleaded not responsible.

A Twitter account that apparently belongs to Sixkiller-Cramer confirmed that almost all of her retweets main as much as Jan. 6 included lies about voter fraud from Trump and different right-wing sources. She additionally retweeted Trump’s tweet encouraging his followers to attend Wednesday’s rally on the Capitol.

Her social media posts embrace references to QAnon — the mass delusion that preposterously claims Trump is combating a deep state cabal of kid intercourse abusers. In a single publish, she used the QAnon slogan “The place we go one we go all WWG1WGA.”

In a Facebook post on Nov. 1, she posted a photograph of Trump’s face with the phrases “Let’s End This.” Within the caption, she wrote, “Anybody who doesn’t defend America has their very own rights. And, I’m coronary heart damaged after I observe. I grew up with excellent teams of various individuals … and NOW I WILL DEFEND OUR GROUND! Potomac Panthers #Virginia slide on in for the #WINNING #Trump2020LandslideVictory.”

In keeping with a LinkedIn profile that seems to belong to Sixkiller-Cramer, she works as a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist at MedStar Georgetown College Hospital. A spokesperson for the hospital didn’t verify whether or not Sixkiller-Cramer was an worker there. Sixkiller-Cramer didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Different rioters’ social media posts confirmed how they really believed they may get Congress to “cease the steal” and overturn the outcomes of the election by “protesting.”

David Fitzgerald, a tattoo artist from Illinois who was arrested for curfew violation and illegal entry, was ready for the occasions of Jan. 6 per week earlier than.

In a Jan. 1 publish on Fb, Fitzgerald wrote: “Transportation. Organized. Lodging. Confirmed. Chilly climate garments. Acquired. Oath. Sworn. 1/6/21. Actuality.”

He additionally posted a photograph of himself within the jacket he was going to put on on the Jan. 6 rally, saying that he was on a “mission” to serve his nation.

Fitzgerald documented his automobile journey from Illinois to DC in a number of movies posted on Fb. In a single video, somebody is overheard saying that they’ll keep away from wanting like Trump supporters after they test into the lodge.

He additionally posted movies of himself smoking joints on the Lincoln Memorial a day earlier than the riots. In one other video, a person is overheard referring to the Jan. 6 rally and speaking about how “these Chinese language motherfuckers” have invaded “our nation.”

“We’re right here for a similar fucking motive,” Fitzgerald replies. “No matter occurs, we’re all in.”

He posted a photograph of himself carrying what gave the impression to be a bulletproof vest with a “Make America Nice Once more” label and a US flag stitched on, with the caption, “Let’s roll.”

He livestreamed a video within the aftermath of the assault on the Capitol by which an officer tells him he’s going to be arrested for violating the 6 p.m. curfew. In a touch upon the video, Fitzgerald wrote, “I’m below arrest.”

Fitzgerald’s posts main as much as Jan. 6 have been crammed with anti-government propaganda and references to Trump’s baseless claims in regards to the election.

“President Trump is following the U.S. Structure. That is not sedition. That is not treason. That is patriotism,” he mentioned in a single Jan. 2 publish.

“Beware the Kraken. Inbound,” he wrote in a Jan. 5 publish, referring to the phrase Trump’s lawyer Sidney Powell used to falsely declare that she had mountains of proof to disprove Biden’s victory, which turned out to be unfounded allegations and conspiracy theories.

Fitzgerald vehemently denied coming into the Capitol constructing, telling BuzzFeed Information that he had attended Trump’s rally after which remained exterior all the day, watching the mob breach the Capitol from the grounds. He maintained that he was solely arrested as a result of he broke the curfew whereas standing exterior.

Charging paperwork present that Fitzgerald was arrested for coming into the Capitol grounds and ignoring officers’ a number of warnings to depart after the curfew, NBC 5 reported.

Fitzgerald mentioned he was on the Capitol to “present like to anybody else who loves America as a lot as [he does],” including that he believes in “conservative values” and never in Republicans or Democrats.

He falsely claimed the election was controversial and that “there must be extra readability on among the unfinished questions regarding the probably fraudulent course of.”

He claimed that the police have been hurting and arresting individuals who have been predominantly behaving peacefully, a lot of whom didn’t enter the Capitol constructing.

When requested what he considered the mob who had stormed the Capitol, he responded, “I’m undecided. Individuals have been amped up, to say the least.”

He additionally mentioned that he borrowed the bulletproof vest from a buddy who was with him as a result of it appeared cool, however added that he was involved about violence and didn’t wish to get harm.

Even after Trump launched a video on Twitter on Thursday finally admitting that his presidency is ending, Fitzgerald mentioned he believed the president didn’t truly concede.

He refused to definitively say whether or not he would settle for Biden because the president, as an alternative saying, “I assist the subsequent president.”

Fitzgerald’s spouse, Jeanette Fitzgerald, told the Chicago Tribune that her husband was not concerned in breaching the Capitol however was there to “peacefully protest and assist President Trump.”

She added, “He wasn’t there with something malicious in thoughts.”

After being arrested contained in the Capitol, Douglas Candy, a pro-Accomplice man from Virginia, mentioned he was pleased with what he had achieved throughout what he mischaracterized as a “actual peaceable protest.”

“Our purpose was to talk to the home and Senate about ‘cease the steal’ and infiltration by the Chinese language Communist Celebration of our authorities,” he wrote in a Fb publish that his daughter Robyn Candy supplied to BuzzFeed Information.

“We The Individuals make use of each home and Senate they usually each want reminding extra ceaselessly than I would like,” Douglas wrote.

He mentioned he was attempting to “affect change utilizing peaceable dialogue.”

“I really feel strongly about defending our Constitutional rights and won’t sit on the sidelines and watch as each events trample our Rights and commit treason with international enemies and Governments,” he wrote.

Douglas was arrested for violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds and for illegal entry in a restricted constructing.

He was half of a big crowd of disorderly Trump rioters close to the Home Atrium contained in the Capitol, a few of whom have been kicking chairs and spraying substances at officers, in accordance with a complaint.

Douglas was amongst these on the entrance of the gang, who started “shouting and cursing” at Capitol cops after they have been ordered to depart the constructing, the criticism mentioned.

Just like the others, Douglas “willfully refused the order to depart” and was arrested.

Following his launch, Douglas told News 3 that he stormed the Capitol as a result of, “I hoped to go in and speak to the Senate and the Home and really converse.”

“To start with, you are not going to get in there except you stroll proper in,” he mentioned.

He mentioned that he traveled from Virginia to Washington as a result of Trump “requested all of the patriots to indicate up, so I did.”

Douglas mentioned that he didn’t intend to cease Congress from certifying Biden’s win however that he needed his voice to be heard and believed that it was his solely recourse.

Douglas declined to remark to BuzzFeed Information.

Robyn, who attended a Black Lives Matter protest final June and actively posts on an anti-bigotry Fb group, told BuzzFeed News that she was “ashamed and disgusted” by her father’s actions.

Douglas is an lively member of pro-Accomplice and anti-government teams, together with the Hiwaymen, the Three Percenters, and Dixie Defenders, in accordance with his social media posts and his daughter. He believed within the QAnon mass delusion and attended the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, Robyn mentioned.

Douglas, who organized a Trump truck parade in October, was satisfied that the election was stolen and COVID-19 was a hoax, Robyn mentioned.

In his publish about his arrest, Douglas talked about that he was with Cindy Sue Fitchett on the Capitol. Information present {that a} Virginia lady named Cindy Fitchett was arrested for a similar fees as Douglas and was among the many riotous crowd of individuals contained in the Capitol who ignored repeated orders to depart the constructing.

A faithful Trump supporter, Fitchett seems to be a member of a Fb group referred to as “Trump Ladies Landslide 2020.” After the Capitol riot, the dialogue on the group has ranged from calling Vice President Mike Pence a traitor and a coward for not reversing the result of the election (he can’t) and blaming antifa for staging the coup (they didn’t).

A Twitter account that seems to belong to Fitchett reveals her agreeing with Trump’s barrage of nonsensical claims about voter fraud and a “rigged election.”

On Nov. 7, when one Twitter consumer accused Kamala Harris and the Democrats of dishonest to win the election, Fitchett replied, “They certain did..however I haven’t given up.”

When Fox Information host Sean Hannity tweeted debunked claims about GOP ballot watchers not being allowed inside a Philadelphia voting location in November, Fitchett replied, “That is bull shit.. however we can be redeemed when President Trump wins in any case these items they tried and failed in opposition to him.”

Her tweets present that she additionally seems to despise Democrats and liberals, calling Harris an “fool,” Ocasio-Cortez a “dumb ass,” and Colin Kaepernick a “nugatory POS” for taking a knee to protest the police killings of Black individuals.

When a Black Lives Matter road mural in entrance of the Trump Tower in New York was vandalized with crimson paint final 12 months, Fitchett tweeted, “Too unhealthy they didn’t cowl it utterly #Trump2020.”

She additionally seems to consider that Democrats had deliberate a coup in opposition to Trump by accusing him of treason, and that they’d launched the coronavirus and arranged racial justice demonstrations to eliminate him.

A lady who answered a quantity listed for Fitchett didn’t determine herself however advised BuzzFeed Information Fitchett was not focused on speaking.

Anthony Tammaro, a 60-year-old from northern Pennsylvania, was arrested for illegal entry and for violating the DC mayor’s 6 p.m. curfew. On Fb, Tammaro ceaselessly voiced assist for the president, sharing memes from conservative and pro-Trump pages.

After it grew to become clear that Joe Biden had gained the election, he wrote an all-caps publish calling the president-elect “THE MOST CORRUPT, SENILE, AND RACIST PRESIDENT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER ELECTED.” A few weeks later, on Nov. 25, he posted, “FUCK JOE BIDEN.” Tammaro declined to speak to BuzzFeed Information when reached by cellphone.

A few of these arrested on the Capitol and within the aftermath of the riot have been affiliated with the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group who have been stirred to motion when Trump advised them “stand back and stand by” in the course of the first presidential debate final 12 months.

Jay Thaxton, a North Carolina resident who was arrested for violating the curfew, has used a Proud Boys graphic as his Fb cowl photograph, according to the Stanly Information & Press. In 2019, Thaxton, 46, helped manage a rally to assist highschool cheerleaders who have been placed on probation for carrying a “Trump 2020” banner throughout a soccer sport, the native newspaper reported.

A person who answered a quantity listed for Thaxton didn’t determine himself however advised BuzzFeed Information that Thaxton is “not speaking to the left-leaning media,” including “all journos can take a leap off a … cliff.”

Joshua Pruitt, a bodybuilder and bartender in DC who was charged with knowingly coming into or remaining in a restricted constructing or grounds with out lawful authority, was seen apparently being inducted into the Proud Boys in a viral video from November. Within the days main as much as the tried coup, Pruitt posted on Parler about “preparing for these clowns,” saying he was the “flawed patriot to fk with.” In a video Pruitt posted after Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio’s arrest on Monday, he mentioned, “y’all motherfuckers simply began a battle.”

“You wish to arrest Enrique? OK. We bought you,” he mentioned. “You must arrest fucking all of us. Trigger I’m going fucking balls to the wall. Fucking pull up see what the fuck occurs. I’m prepared.”

“Like fucking prepared,” he continued as he pulled out a mouthguard with the phrase “FIGHTR” and slipped it onto his tooth.

On Wednesday morning, hours earlier than the tried coup, Pruitt, 39, posted a photograph of himself carrying a rifle on Instagram. He additionally posted an image of himself with two others on Parler holding up the “OK” hand sign — which has been adopted as a white power symbol usually utilized by pro-Trump and the alt-right to troll the media. On Friday, Pruitt confirmed his arrest on Parler, saying “the struggle isn’t over.”

He declined BuzzFeed Information’ request for remark.

A few of these arrested had a felony historical past. Michael Curzio of Florida, who was arrested for illegal entry, served eight years in jail after being convicted of tried first-degree homicide, in accordance with on-line courtroom data. He was launched in 2019. Curzio couldn’t be reached for remark Friday.

Bradley Rukstales, the CEO of an Illinois tech firm, was placed on leave after he was arrested for illegal entry.

Rukstales later apologized in a statement, saying he regretted his actions.

“In a second of extraordinarily poor judgment following the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, I adopted lots of of others by an open set of doorways to the Capitol constructing to see what was happening inside,” Rukstales mentioned.

“It was the only worst private determination of my life.”

Ema O’Connor contributed reporting to this story.