A US Navy contractor with “secret” security clearance and access to military ammunition was arrested after allegedly encouraging other members of the pro-Trump crowd to “move forward” during the US Capitol riot that left five dead, federal officials said. .
Timothy Louis Hale-Cusanelli, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, was accused of illegally entering the Capitol, disorderly conduct inside the building and obstruction of a police officer.
He is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, 30, who works as a contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle, according to court documents. He is also a white supremacist who worked to spread his extremist views online, the documents say.
According to the authorities, Hale-Cusanelli told confidential information from the Navy Criminal Investigation Service that he was in the deadly riot at the Capitol on January 6 and showed videos of his cell phone entering the building.
He also showed informants videos of himself making “harassment and derogatory statements” to Capitol police inside and outside the building, according to a criminal complaint.
The informant described Hale-Cusanelli as an “outspoken white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer”, who posted videos on YouTube offering “extreme political views and opinions” on his channel called Based Hermes Show, as well as other forums.
Before traveling from New Jersey to DC, Hale-Cusanelli wrote an online post saying, “Trust the plan, it’s the final countdown, stay tuned for the next episode” and “and” Trust the plan, big announcement soon “, by according to court documents.
In a taped conversation with the informant, Hale-Cusanelli admitted to entering the Capitol on January 6 and encouraging others in the frantic crowd to “move forward” by giving them instructions.
He told the informant that if they had more men, the crowd could have taken over the entire building.
He also admitted to taking a flag and flagpole when he saw another rowdy man launch “like a dart” at a Capitol police officer, the complaint said.
Hale-Cusanelli described the mast as a “murder weapon” and said his intention was to destroy or discard the flag as soon as possible.