/ Several Capitol rioters were identified using the building’s surveillance footage. In this screenshot from an FBI affidavit, Florida resident and far-right group Oath Keepers member Connie Meggs is circled in red.
The charges range from violent and disorderly conduct to theft of government property.
Two months ago, a man was photographed walking with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern hefted over his shoulder in the U.S. Capitol.
He was among the throngs who entered the building, but a photo of him carrying the lectern, smiling and waving at the camera, became an internet favorite. Nicknamed “lectern guy,” the man would later be identified as Adam Johnson from Bradenton, Florida – and he wouldn’t be the only Floridian arrested during or after the siege.
He was among the throngs who entered the building, but a photo of him carrying the lectern, smiling and waving at the camera, became an internet favorite. Nicknamed “lectern guy,” the man would later be identified as Adam Johnson from Bradenton, Florida – and he wouldn’t be the only Floridian arrested during or after the siege.
Now, weeks later, twenty-three Floridians have been charged in the Jan. 6 raid on the Capitol, representing nearly one-in-10 of the total. That puts the state behind only Texas, where more of its residents were arrested.
The Justice Department says more than 300 people have been arrested so far, from at least 40 states, although details are available for about 270 of them. Most were implicated in social media posts – often from live streams they were accused of recording and broadcasting themselves.
Someone who knew Stepakoff over 20 years ago later identified him to authorities.
“I’m not sure to what extent his presence there makes him guilty of any crime,” said Stepakoff’s attorney, Rick Terrana. “He just followed the crowd over to the capital just intending to be nothing more than a spectator and ended up going into the capital after it was opened up, an hour or so after this incident that we all saw on TV.”
Stepakoff appeared in court Friday on charges that include knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and knowingly engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds.
Federal authorities have arrested the rabbi of a messianic synagogue in Florida, charging him with several counts related to the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6.
Michael Stepakoff was identified in surveillance footage inside the Capitol by a witness who’d known him for two decades, according to the complaint against him.
Stepakoff made an initial appearance in federal court in Florida on Friday and was released on bond. His next court appearance is February 4 in the District of Columbia.
Stepakoff posted several photographs, including a selfie, from outside the Capitol during the mob attack. At some point during the day, his wife posted, “Update on Michael y’all…please continue to prayers for his protection and to be safe. He texted me privately and said he is okay but it’s very dangerous where he is- He was inside the Capital Building…” Another witness told the FBI that Stepakoff said during a phone call he’d been inside the Capitol.