John Sullivan, the 26-year-old left-wing activist who shot a close-up video of a woman’s fatal shooting during the January 6 siege of the Capitol, was released without bail on a handful of federal charges.
During a virtual hearing on Friday, a federal judge in Utah said prosecutors had failed to meet the legal limit to keep him in custody while he awaited further legal proceedings.
Sullivan, who told Fox News last week that he had entered the Capitol to “document” the events that were taking place, is accused of participating and encouraging protesters as they sweep the building.
The confusion left at least five people dead, including the woman Sullivan filmed and a Capitol police officer.
LEFT ACTIVIST LOADED IN THE CAPITOL MOTIMO AFTER SAYING IT WAS THERE TO ‘DOCUMENT’
Sullivan is forced to stay away from social media, hand over his passport and be under house arrest. He will also have to stop working for the activist group Insurgence USA that he founded, although he does not have to give up control.
In addition, Sullivan, who posed with a rifle in protests over the summer, is now banned from carrying firearms.
The arrest by the FBI took place on Thursday in his home state of Utah. Sullivan could not be reached for comment on Friday.
The video that the former Olympics speed skater recorded for his social media accounts was later given to the FBI as evidence, according to a criminal complaint.
Inside the building, he told protesters that “We need to burn this” and “it’s our home ————“, according to a statement signed by FBI Special Agent Matthew Foulger.
“We did it just —,” he said elsewhere, from within the crowd. “We did it together. F — yes! We are all part of that story.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone published on Wednesday, Sullivan said he was acting to build a relationship with the protesters.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Prosecutors intend to try his case in Washington DC He has another case pending in Provo, Utah, in connection with a protest he organized in June. At that event, someone present shot a driver during an altercation.
Black Lives Matter Utah told Fox News Friday that Sullivan is not a member, has never attended a meeting and has no association with the group.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.