Capitol Riot: Badalian Added to Jan. 6 Conspiracy

WASHINGTON D.C. – Another name added to the growing list of those facing justice for the January 6th insurrection. Edward Badalian, 27, of Los Angeles, California, has been arrested and charged in a conspiracy directly linked to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, a chaotic event that interrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Badalian faces a hefty indictment including conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and other related offenses. He was initially apprehended on November 17, 2021, in Los Angeles, and appeared in court in the Central District of California before being arraigned in Washington D.C. on November 23rd. This isn’t a standalone case; Badalian is being added to an existing indictment against Daniel Rodriguez, 39, of Fontana, California.

Rodriguez, already in custody since March 31, 2021, originally faced charges including the assault of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone. The superseding indictment now expands the scope of the case, alleging a broader conspiracy. He was arraigned on November 16th, 2021, in the District of Columbia and remains detained. The pair allegedly weren’t acting alone.

Federal investigators say that in the fall of 2020, Badalian, Rodriguez, and others formed a Telegram group – dubbed the “Patriots 45 MAGA Gang” – which quickly became a breeding ground for violent rhetoric. The group allegedly targeted individuals and groups supporting the 2020 election results, those with perceived liberal or communist ideologies, and anyone in a position of government authority. The indictment details how the group actively collected weapons and tactical gear in preparation for traveling to Washington D.C. on January 6th, with the intent to disrupt the electoral vote certification.

Prosecutors allege the group didn’t just show up; they actively planned to storm past security barricades, gain unlawful access to the Capitol building, and coordinate their actions before, during, and after the riot. The indictment further claims they conspired to not only stop or delay Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote but also to obstruct the investigation into their own activities by tampering with evidence. This is a full-blown attempt to subvert the democratic process, according to the Department of Justice.

The investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division, with assistance from the Central District of California, is far from over. As of ten months after the January 6th attack, over 675 individuals have been arrested across nearly all 50 states. Over 210 of those arrests involve charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices, alongside the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police, are continuing to build their case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. It’s crucial to remember that all charges are allegations, and Badalian and Rodriguez are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.