The MAGA mob rioter who was pictured swinging from the Senate balcony is now begging for forgiveness because he just got ‘caught up in the moment’, while a data-analytics CEO arrested for his involvement says it was the ‘single worst’ decision of his life.
Several Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday are now expressing their regret as authorities continue to arrest those involved in the rampage that lawmakers have branded a ‘terrorist attack’.
More than 80 have been arrested so far but dozens of those involved, who were labeled as ‘great patriots by Trump, are yet to be identified. The FBI is asking for help in trying to track them down.
Josiah Colt, a 34-year-old who runs his own digital marketing firm in Boise, Idaho, is among those who have apologized in the wake of the violent siege after he was identified as the rioter hanging from the balcony. He was not among those arrested as of Friday morning.
The infamous image of him dangling from the balcony after Trump supporters forced their way into the Capitol quickly went viral around the world as the chaotic scenes unfolded.
Colt, who bragged on social media after the rampage saying ‘I’m all over the news now’, says he didn’t cause any damage and claims he told other protesters that the chamber was ‘a sacred place’.
Josiah Colt, a 34-year-old from Boise, Idaho, has been identified as the Trump supporter who was pictured swinging from the Senate balcony. He is among those who have since apologized in the wake of the violent siege
Colt is pictured here after jumping down from the balcony onto the floor of the Senate chamber. Colt has not been arrested over the siege but said he is speaking with an attorney
Soon after he jumped from the balcony onto the Senate floor, Colt was pictured standing on the dais inside the Senate chamber where witnesses say he screamed: ‘Trump won that election!’
‘I love America, I love the people, I didn’t hurt anyone and I didn’t cause any damage in the Chamber,’ Colt said in a statement obtained by CBS2 News.
‘I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair. I said my peace then I helped a gentlemen get to safety that was injured then left.
‘While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to not do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in it’s place. We’re still on sacred ground.
‘And sincerely apologize to the American people. I recognize my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country. In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing.
‘I realize now that my actions were in appropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho. My intention wasn’t to put a stain on our great Country’s Democratic process.’
Colt has not been arrested over the siege but said he is speaking with an attorney.
Soon after he jumped from the balcony onto the Senate floor, Colt was pictured standing on the dais inside the Senate chamber where witnesses say he screamed: ‘Trump won that election!’
Colt, who bragged on social media after the rampage saying ‘I’m all over the news now’ (pictured above), says he didn’t cause any damage and claims he told other protesters that the chamber was ‘a sacred place
Rioter brags about entering Capitol and sitting in Pelosi’s chair
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Bradley Rukstales, who is the CEO of a Chicago-based data analytics firm called Cogensia, is among the rioters who have been arrested by Capitol Police.
The 52-year-old said he regrets his involvement and described it as the ‘single worst personal decision of my life’.
He has since said he had followed hundreds of Trump supporters through the ‘open doors’ of the Capitol to see what was taking place inside.
Bradley Rukstales, who is the CEO of a Chicago-based data analytics firm called Cogensia, is among the rioters who have been arrested by Capitol Police. The 52-year-old said he regrets his involvement and described it as the ‘single worst personal decision of my life’
‘In a moment of extremely poor judgment following the January 6 rally in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors to the Capitol building to see what was taking place inside,’ Rukstales said in a statement.
‘I was arrested for the first time in my life and charged with unlawful entry.
‘My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so. Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place in Washington.
‘I offer my sincere apologies for my indiscretion, and I deeply regret that my actions have brought embarrassment to my family, colleagues, friends and fellow countrymen.
‘It was the single worst personal decision of my life; I have no excuse for my actions and wish that I could take them back.’
His company, Cogensia, tweeted a statement after Rukstales’ involvement in the siege became known, saying he had been placed on leave.
‘Our CEO, Brad Rukstales participated in the recent Washington DC protests. Those actions were his own and not acting on behalf Cogensia nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm. He has been placed on leave of absence while we assess further.’
Another rioter, who was among those leading the charge up the stairs inside the Capitol, has been identified as Iowa native Doug Jensen.
He was pictured inside the Capitol in a stand-off with police during the siege. Jensen was identified as a person of interest by the Metropolitan Police Department.
Another rioter, who was among those leading the charge up the stairs inside the Capitol, has been identified as Iowa native Doug Jensen. He was pictured inside the Capitol in a stand-off with police during the siege. Jensen was identified as a person of interest by the Metropolitan Police Department
It comes as the FBI on Friday released a new wanted poster of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down.
Federal authorities are seeking the public’s help in tracking down those pictured for making ‘unlawful entry’ into the Capitol building.
The most recent wanted poster is in addition to the dozens the FBI have already said they are trying to track down.
Authorities have already arrested more than 80 rioters who breached the Capitol building, scaled the Senate and House Chambers, vandalized statues, fired tear gas and defaced property.
Fifty-five are being pursued on federal charges, authorities say.
The FBI has released new photos of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down after they stormed the US Capitol in the violent siege that left five dead
The most recent wanted poster is in addition to the dozens the FBI have already said they are trying to track down
Here DailyMail.com breaks down the others who have already been identified:
The ‘QAnon Shaman’ – Jake Angeli
The heavily-tattooed Trump supporter who sported horns, a fur hat and face paint and occupied the Senate dais moments after Vice President Mike Pence delivered his rebuke to Donald Trump has been revealed to be an Arizona-based QAnon believer who used to promote himself as a singer and actor.
Jake Angeli, 32, often known as the QAnon Shaman, has become a fixture at recent right-wing rallies while decked out in his signature attire.
One of his tattoos is said to show the symbol of Wotanism, an acronym for ‘Will of the Aryan Nation.’
Dr Adam Rutherford tweeted: ‘I know this jamiroquoi wannabe muthaf***a is kinda funny but his tattoo is the symbol of Wotanism, which is a Nazi/Odin occult that believes Jews control the government, the Holocaust is exaggerated and champions the 14/88 slogan. He’s a real card-carrying Nazi.’
Angeli was at the front of a group of agitators who broke into the Capitol and faced off with DC police who desperately tried in vain to protect the establishment.
He then made his way into the Senate chamber where he was seen shouting and posing for photos.
Angeli flexed his left arm as he stood behind the dais in the Senate chamber where just moments earlier Vice President Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi had stood.
He was flanked by an American flag and his fellow rioters took photos of him on their smartphones.
The heavily-tattooed Trump supporter, who has become a fixture at recent right-wing rallies decked out in his signature attire, has been identified as Jake Angeli
The ‘Qanon Shaman’ was also seen screaming in the chamber and clutching a megaphone.
Angeli has become a prominent figure at pro-Trump rallies, always sporting his signature outfit of fur, horns, face paint and bare chest, where he has spouted off about QAnon conspiracy theories.
Most recently he has been active at Arizona rallies calling for the results of the presidential election to be overturned, after Trump has refused to concede and pushed unfounded claims of voter fraud ever since he lost to Joe Biden.
Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet
At a pro-Trump rally at the Arizona State Capitol in February, he held aloft a banner reading ‘Q Sent Me’ in reference to QAnon.
He was also seen at reopen Arizona rallies protesting against lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In one photo posted on his Facebook account in November, where he calls himself Yellowstone Wolf, Angeli is seen shaking hands with Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney – who hours before the violence kicked off encouraged supporters to pursue a ‘trial by combat’.
He has also posted about numerous conspiracy theories including a video claiming there is a ‘globalist plot for world domination thru the plandemic & its numerous different agendas’.
Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet.
‘At a certain point, it all clicked in a way,’ he said in an interview in February, reported AZCentral.
‘Oh, my God. I see now the reality of what’s going on.’
QAnon is the debunked extreme right wing conspiracy theory that claims Satan-worshipping pedophiles are plotting against Trump and are running a global child sex trafficking ring.
An undated profile for Angeli on Backstage.com shows the 32-year-old was a singer, screenwriter and actor.
Barnett has also bought into Trump’s unfounded claims that the election has been ‘stolen’ from him and has been spotted at other Stop The Steal rallies including one in Bentonville in November.
The longtime Arizona QAnon supporter dressed in fur and a horned helmet, was among the violent mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday
Florida firefighter – Andy Williams
Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.
He wore a trucker cap emblazoned with Trump’s campaign logo, along with a hydration backpack and a mask pushed under his chin.
Williams has served as a firefighter in Sanford, Florida, since 2016, department spokesperson Bianca Gillett confirmed.
He has been placed on leave pending an investigation by the city, Gillett said.
Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office
‘Baby Lives Matter’ founder Tayler Hansen
Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist.
He was linked to Wednesday’s turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead.
Babbit, 35, was reportedly shot by Capitol Police as she tried to climb through a window protesters had broken in an effort to get inside congressional chambers.
Hansen posted on Twitter Wednesday night: ‘After Ashli was killed outside the chamber doors— Our elected officials went back to work hours later as if it were nothing, these people don’t represent us. They are EVIL. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you’ll realize how much trouble our Country is in.’
Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist. He was linked to Wednesday’s turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead
Adam Johnson – The stay-at-home dad who stole Pelosi’s lectern
The looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been identified as Adam Johnson – a psychology graduate turned furniture maker from Bradenton, Florida.
He is a stay-at-home dad to five children; his wife is a doctor, according to The Bradenton Herald. He has previously faced possession of marijuana and violation of probation charges, the paper reports.
Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts show him posing next to a sign reading ‘closed to all tours’ inside the building.
Johnson, 36, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege.
Another looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been named as Adam Johnson – a psychology graduate from Bradenton, Florida
Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts show him posing next to a sign reading ‘closed to all tours’ inside the building
Johnson, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege
Johnson shared images of himself sporting MAGA hats and sinking beers as he wrote that he had ‘made it to DC’ Tuesday – the day before the siege
Brooklyn Supreme Court judge’s son – Aaron Mostofsky
Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick.
He is the son of Shlomo Mostofsky, a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, Gothamist reports.
Mostofsky was seen walking just ahead of a man carrying the confederate flag. He told The New York Post: ‘The election was stolen.’ He had refused to give the paper his name but said he found the riot shield on the floor.
His brother, Nachman Mostofsky, who also attended the rally but said he did not enter the Capitol building said his brother ‘did nothing illegal’ and ‘was pushed inside’.
Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick
Organizer of a Trump boat parade – Kristina Malimon
The organizer of a Trump boat parade was also named as one of those arrested Wednesday.
Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports.
The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking.
She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA.
Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon, according to reports
Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports. The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking. She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA.
Navistar Direct Marketing employee
A Maryland marketing company on Thursday fired a pro Trump rioter who was seen walking through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck.
Navistar Direct Marketing issued a statement Thursday which read: ‘Navistar Direct Marketing was made aware that a man wearing a Navistar company badge was seen inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 during the security breach.
‘After review of the photographic evidence the employee in question has been terminated for cause.’
The unidentified employee was pictured inside the Capitol building Wednesday.
‘While we support all employee’s right to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing,’ the company added.
Several images of the worker show him alongside Angeli.
A Maryland marketing company has fired a pro Trump rioter who walked through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck on Wednesday
Angeli leads a mob of supporters breaking into the Capitol Wednesday night causing lawmakers to evacuate the chambers
Richard ‘Bigo’ Barnett
Meanwhile, the insurrectionist who brazenly put his feet on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk in her office is now known to be a 60-year-old Arkansas man who claims he will run for Arkansas governor in 2022 and describes himself as a white nationalist online.
Richard ‘Bigo’ Barnett boasted outside the Capitol following the siege that he ‘wrote [Pelosi] a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk and scratched my balls’.
A photo from Pelosi’s office showed another threatening note on her desk reading ‘we will not back down’.
Meanwhile, in Pelosi’s office, Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker’s chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted.
It later emerged Barnett is an independent contractor and was the recipient of a $9,300 PPP loan as part of a COVID relief package, The Daily Dot reports.
In Pelosi’s office, 60-year-old Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker’s chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted
In one selfie on his Facebook page, Barnett is seen posing with a semi-automatic rifle
Barnett later told the New York Times reporter Matthew Rosenberg he ‘fell’ into Pelosi’s office as he showed off the personalized envelope which was addressed to The Honorable Billy Long and had Pelosi’s signature on it.
‘I didn’t steal it,’ he claimed, saying he ‘left a quarter on her desk’.
‘And I left her a note on her desk that says ‘Nancy Bigo was here you b**ch’.’
He also denied storming her office, claiming he politely knocked on her office door and was pushed in by other protesters.
‘I’ll probably be telling them this is what happened all the way to the DC jail,’ he said.
In a November post on Facebook, where he goes by the alias George Reincarnated Patton, Barnett claimed he will run for governor of Arkansas in 2022 saying he will ‘be running on the COMMON SENSE platform’.
He has also shared images of the Gadsden flag snake – which is regarded as a racist symbol – and boasts of being a white nationalist.
In several photos, he is seen posing with semi-automatic rifles.
Baked Alaska, real name Tim Gionet
Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017.
Gionet posted video that showed Trump supporters in ‘Make America Great Again’ and ‘God Bless Trump’ hats milling around and taking selfies with officers who calmly asked them to leave the premises.
The Trump supporters talked among themselves, laughed, and told the officers and each other: ‘This is only the beginning.’
Gionet, who had his YouTube channel banned in 2020, is said to have attended the rally Wednesday after telling followers on January 4 that he had testing positive for COVID-19, The Daily Dot reports. He can be seen in pictures without a mask.
It is not clear when he tested positive for the virus or if he was tested before the rally.
Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017
Donald Trump signs the tattooed arm of Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska, in 2016
Rick Saccone, former state lawmaker in Pennsylvania
Even elected politicians were part of the mob.
Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that ‘we are storming the Capitol’ and that ‘our vanguard has broken through the barricades’.
Saccone also told his followers: ‘We are trying to run out all the evil people and RINOs that have betrayed our president. We are going to run them out of their offices.’
He later deleted that post but not before it was seen by his followers, CBS reports.
He added: ‘Hello Mr. President, we love you. Keep doing what you’re doing. We’re with you. Until next time, in God we trust.’
Even elected politicians were part of the mob. Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that ‘we are storming the Capitol’
In a later Facebook post Saccone said: ‘I see some people are twisting the peaceful protest into something else. Everyone from our group was involved in peaceful, first amendment assembly. It was part of the metaphor to storm the castle so to speak.
‘People that I heard breached some barricades to reach the steps to wave flags. Some carried a huge American flag up the steps which drew a loud roar of approval from the crowd. No one I no of intended or condones any violence unlike those on the left. Did not see any violence but did see some smoke what some said was tear gas being sprayed at people.
‘I cannot imagine anyone being shot for a trespass. The punishment for trespass is not death. My heart goes out to the young lady who was shot. Again, these were hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors, especially those from Pa. What do you think?’
Derrick Evans
Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia’s House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol Wednesday
Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia’s House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol as he joined in the march. He later claimed he was ‘simply there as an independent member of the media’.
Evans, who calls himself an activist online, later deleted the footage showing him rushing inside with the mob.
Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol; he was later fired from his job
‘We’re going in,’ he tells followers.
In other clips he could be heard chanting ‘stop the steal’, The New York Times reports.
Joshua Pruitt, Proud Boy
Joshua Pruitt is the only person arrested on a felony charge of violating the Riot Act so far, according to the city’s arrest sheet.
The 39-year-old was taken into custody at the Capitol building.
He is reported to have links to the Proud Boy movement, CNN states.
Paul Davis, lawyer fired from his job
Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol to his followers online.
He is understood to have been fired from his job at Goosehead Insurance as a result.
A spokesman for the company told DailyMail.com: ‘His actions are not a representation of or supported by Goosehead in any way.
‘He is no longer employed by Goosehead, An official statement will be released.’
Davis later posted to Instagram saying: ‘For those of you claiming I was trying to ‘storm the Capitol,’ it’s obvious from my entire story that I was peacefully demonstrating. They gassed the entire crowd that was standing there with me. I was not trying to break in. Was just talking to the police officers and praying over them.’
Jon Schaffer, heavy metal musician
Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth was also pictured breaching the Capitol Wednesday, LouderSound.com reports.
Schaffer, 52, warned in an interview last year: ‘They will go down. They’re messing with the wrong people, believe me.’
Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth, was also said to have been pictured breaching the Capitol, right in the blue sweatshirt
Leigh Ann Luck
Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden’s victory.
Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden’s victory
Leigh Ann Luck dressed up as Statue of Liberty poses for a picture as supporters of Donald Trump protested Biden’s victory
Written
on January 15, 2021