An Arkansas man has recently been detained and charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Nathan Earl Hughes, 34, from Fayetteville, Arkansas, was arrested on August 30, 2023, and appeared in court on the same day. Hughes is accused of participating in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel riot, where he reportedly engaged in disruptive and disorderly conduct, impeded passage through the Capitol grounds, and forcibly fought against law enforcement in an attempt to breach the police line. This arrest is part of the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in the Capitol breach, with over 1,106 individuals arrested nationwide in connection with the event.
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Summary of the Case
Nathan Earl Hughes, a 34-year-old man from Fayetteville, Arkansas, has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Hughes’ actions, along with those of others, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was convened to count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election. He is charged with a felony offense of civil disorder, as well as misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings. The charges were filed in the District of Columbia, and Hughes was arrested in his hometown of Fayetteville, Arkansas, on August 30, 2023.
Details of the Arrest
On August 30, 2023, Nathan Earl Hughes was arrested in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This arrest comes after an investigation by the FBI’s Little Rock and Washington Field Offices, with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. Hughes made his initial appearance in the Western District of Arkansas following his arrest.
Charges against Nathan Earl Hughes
Hughes is facing multiple charges related to his actions during the Capitol breach. He has been charged with a felony offense of civil disorder, which encompasses his participation in the riot and his attempts to breach the police line and enter the U.S. Capitol building. Additionally, he is facing misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings. These charges highlight the severity of Hughes’ actions and the disruption caused by the rioters during the joint session of Congress.
Video Evidence and Identification
Video footage obtained from law enforcement shows Nathan Earl Hughes present in the vicinity of the Lower West Terrace tunnel for at least one hour during the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The video footage played a crucial role in identifying Hughes as one of the participants in the breach. His distinctive appearance, including a black/dark blue and camouflage print hat with a frayed brim, black Mechanix gloves, a gray hooded sweatshirt, and a black “Infowars” branded shirt, aided in his identification. The shirt displayed an image of a space shuttle and the words “Space Force Est. 2020.” This video evidence and identification were instrumental in building the case against Hughes.
Involvement in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel Riot
The video footage obtained from law enforcement shows Nathan Earl Hughes actively participating in the Lower West Terrace tunnel riot. At various points, Hughes can be seen pushing against the police line in the tunnel and physically fighting with police in an attempt to breach the line and enter the U.S. Capitol building. Shortly before 3:15 p.m., Hughes, standing at the mouth of the tunnel, signaled the crowd of rioters to move forward by saying, “C’mon! C’mon!” while waving his hand in the direction of the tunnel. After signaling to the crowd, Hughes entered the tunnel and charged toward the police line. Inside the tunnel, he continued to signal others to enter and confront the police line, and he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with other rioters, rocking back and forth in a synchronized movement.
Description of Hughes’ Appearance
Nathan Earl Hughes is described as a 34-year-old man from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was observed wearing a black/dark blue and camouflage print hat with a frayed brim, distinctive black Mechanix gloves, a gray hooded sweatshirt, and a black “Infowars” branded shirt with an image of a space shuttle and the words “Space Force Est. 2020” written on it. This description, along with the video footage, helped in identifying Hughes as one of the participants in the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Actions of Hughes During the Capitol Breach
During the Capitol breach, Nathan Earl Hughes was actively involved in attempting to breach the police line and enter the U.S. Capitol building. He can be seen in the video footage pushing against the police line in the Lower West Terrace tunnel and physically fighting with the police. At approximately 3:18 p.m., Hughes assisted the mob by forcefully removing police riot shields and passing them out of the tunnel. He personally attempted to pull away police shields and pass them to other rioters. Hughes’ actions demonstrated his active participation in the breach and his willingness to engage in physical confrontations with law enforcement.
Assisting the Mob in Removing Police Riot Shields
One of the significant actions of Nathan Earl Hughes during the Capitol breach was his active assistance in removing police riot shields. At around 3:18 p.m., Hughes can be seen in the video footage forcefully removing the shields and passing them out of the tunnel to other rioters. He actively participated in this action, demonstrating his engagement in the destruction of property and his support for the mob’s violent activities.
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Violation of Police Instructions and Elbow Strike
At approximately 3:19 p.m., as Nathan Earl Hughes was being forced out of the tunnel by the police, he was observed using his elbow to strike in the direction of the police. This action was a violation of the police instructions to disperse and demonstrated Hughes’ aggression towards law enforcement. Despite being pushed out of the tunnel, Hughes remained in the vicinity for at least 90 minutes, encouraging other rioters to pull police officers out of the tunnel and into the crowd. His actions during the Capitol breach were brazen and posed a threat to the safety of law enforcement officers.
Conclusion
Nathan Earl Hughes’ arrest on felony and misdemeanor charges for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, highlights the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their actions on that day. The video evidence and identification played a crucial role in establishing Hughes’ involvement, and his active participation in the Lower West Terrace tunnel riot demonstrated his willingness to engage in violent activities. Hughes’ acts of assisting the mob in removing police riot shields and his violation of police instructions further solidify the charges against him. As the investigation into the Capitol breach continues, the prosecution of individuals like Hughes sends a clear message that such unlawful actions will not be tolerated.
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