Trump and some of his closest allies blamed infiltrators of the left-wing Antifa movement for instigating violence on Capitol Hill, despite evidence that the overwhelming majority of protesters and protesters were in the city to support Trump’s effort to block certification of the election of President-elect Joe Biden.
Trump and his supporters seem certain to take advantage of Sullivan’s arrest as proof that the infiltration claim was true. His group claims to oppose police abuse and right-wing violence, while some of his writings echo the language used by the anti-fascist movement.
Sullivan said in press interviews after the riot that he was documenting the events there as a journalist, but prosecutors say he was a participant in the violence.
FBI special agent Matthew Foulger said in a statement supporting the criminal complaint that a series of statements made by Sullivan on video encouraged violation of the law.
Foulger said that as the crowd rushed to the Capitol building, Sullivan said, “We got this shit. We did it together. Fuck, yes! We are all part of this story ”and“ Let’s burn this shit ”.
The complaint alleges that while protesters were trying to break the glass on a set of doors on the Capitol, Sullivan ran and said he could help. “Hey guys, I have a knife. I have a knife Let me get up, ”said the activist.
The FBI appeared to contest Sullivan’s claim that he was a reporter. Foulger told the court that Sullivan “admitted … that he has no press credentials.”
“The investigation did not reveal any connection between Sullivan and any news organization,” said the FBI agent.
The federal complaint says Sullivan voluntarily provided the FBI with copies of the video he filmed that day, many of which were posted online.
The criminal charge against Sullivan suggests that prosecutors consider his case more serious than most other cases brought against alleged rioters. Most of those who simply joined the crowd are accused only of the two misdemeanors. The charge of civil disorder, filed under the 1968 Riot Act, carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison.
Prison records show that Sullivan was arrested on Thursday at Tooele County Detention Center on the outskirts of Salt Lake City. He is due to appear in federal court on Friday afternoon.