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.
Florida rabbi arrested in connection with deadly US Capitol riot Donald Trump supporters outside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, TapTheForwardAssist Josh Hawley expected a softball interview from a conservative radio host but things didn t go as planned
A rabbi in Florida is now the latest person of interest in connection with the deadly U.S. Capitol riots that erupted on Jan. 6 amid the Electoral College certification.
Federal authorities have revealed that there is surveillance video which shows him standing inside the Capitol building during the raid and a Facebook post the FBI says was made by his wife, which states he was inside the building and asks the public for prayers for his safety, according to FOX-13.
Palm Harbor rabbi charged in Capitol riot
Dan Matic reports.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. - A Palm Harbor rabbi is accused of taking part in the raid in the United States Capitol that interrupted congress and left five people, including a police officer dead.
Charges against Michael Stepakoff, 55, include violent entry of the Capitol grounds. FBI agents say he joined the mob behind the insurrection earlier this month.
According to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court of Washington D.C., the evidence against him includes surveillance video which shows him standing inside the Capitol building during the raid and a Facebook post the FBI says was made by his wife, which states he was inside the building and asks the public for prayers for his safety.
Palm Harbor Messianic rabbi is the latest Floridian accused in U.S. Capitol riot
A federal complaint accuses Michael Stepakoff of Palm Habor of entering the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.
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A closed circuit video image, included in federal criminal complaint, shows a person authorities believe is Michael Stepakoff inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Stepakoff is a lawyer and a rabbi for a messianic synagogue in Palm Harbor. [ U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ]
Updated Jan. 29
A rabbi who leads a Palm Harbor synagogue is among the latest Floridians to be accused of crimes related to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.