Capitol Taser Attack: California Man Admits Guilt

WASHINGTON D.C. – A Fontana, California man learned today that planning violence and acting on it comes with consequences. Daniel Rodriguez, 40, pleaded guilty to four felony charges stemming from the January 6th, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, including the shocking act of electro-shocking a Metropolitan Police Officer with a taser. The breach, fueled by false claims of election fraud, disrupted the joint session of Congress tasked with certifying the 2020 presidential election results.

Rodriguez admitted guilt to conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of justice, and the particularly egregious charge of assaulting a law enforcement officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Specifically, court documents reveal he targeted MPD Officer Michael Fanone with a taser during the chaotic riot. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson has set a sentencing hearing for May 16, 2023, where Rodriguez will finally face the music for his actions.

The Justice Department’s investigation uncovered a disturbing level of premeditation. As early as Fall 2020, Rodriguez and his co-conspirators formed a Telegram group, chillingly titled “Patriots 45 MAGA Gang.” This wasn’t just idle chatter; the group served as a breeding ground for violent rhetoric against anyone who supported the election results, held “liberal or communist ideologies,” or simply held a position of authority. The group actively stockpiled weapons and tactical gear, intending to bring them to Washington, D.C. on January 6th.

The goal, according to court filings, was to forcefully obstruct Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote and to actively hinder the investigation into their own criminal activities. Rodriguez and his associates didn’t just wander into the Capitol; they strategically bypassed barricades, gaining unlawful access with the intent to disrupt and intimidate. The “Patriots 45 MAGA Gang” weren’t protesting – they were preparing for a fight, and they brought the fight to the steps of the Capitol.

Rodriguez’s arrest came on March 31, 2021, thanks to the relentless work of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, including the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

This case is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. In the 25 months since the Capitol breach, over 985 individuals have been arrested across nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the riot. Approximately 319 of those arrests involve charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers. The investigation remains active, and authorities are still seeking information. Anyone with tips is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit information online at tips.fbi.gov. This wasn’t a spontaneous outburst; it was a calculated attack on American democracy, and the long arm of the law is still reaching out to hold all those responsible accountable.”