Christopher Raphael Spencer Guilty of Capitol Breach, Washington DC, 2021

WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man was found guilty in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Christopher Raphael Spencer, 43, of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Spencer was convicted following a stipulated bench trial in front of U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Spencer will be sentenced at a later date.

According to the government’s stipulated evidence, Spencer and his wife, Virginia Marie “Jenny” Spencer, traveled from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., to see the former President on Jan. 6, 2021. At some time during the day, the couple walked to the U.S. Capitol building and into the restricted perimeter of the Capitol grounds, bypassing bike rack barricades.

The couple ended up in a crowd of rioters gathered near the Inauguration stage on the west side of the Capitol building. The two watched as rioters attacked police and climbed the walls of the Capitol and the Inauguration stage scaffolding. The couple then made their way up the stairs underneath the scaffolding to the Northwest Terrace near the Senate Wing of the Capitol.

At approximately 2:19 p.m., the Spencers entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door. The couple then made their way into the Crypt and observed as rioters clashed with police. During this time, Christopher filmed a Facebook Live Video and urged rioters to “Don’t stop!” in relation to an ensuing struggle with police. The two then made their way to the second floor and went briefly into the hallway offices of former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Christopher Spencer again recorded a Facebook live video in which he stated, “Where’s Nancy’s office?”

The couple then made their way to the House Chamber and Christopher recorded a video, in which he stated, “Kick that m— open!” in reference to the House Chamber Door. In another video, Christopher yelled, “Smile, m—, smile b—, f— traitor!” at United States Capitol Police officers as they were involved in an altercation with a rioter.

The couple spent approximately 30 minutes inside the Capitol. The FBI arrested the couple on Feb. 8, 2021, in North Carolina.

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