A California man has been arrested for conspiracy and other crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Edward Badalian, 27, of Los Angeles, California, is charged in an indictment with conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and other offenses. The indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia.
Badalian was arrested on Nov. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles and made his initial court appearance in the Central District of California. He was arraigned on Nov. 23, 2021, in the District of Columbia.
Badalian was charged in a superseding indictment returned in a case initially filed in March 2021 against Daniel Rodriguez, 39, of Fontana, California. Rodriguez was indicted at that time on charges including the assault of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone. The superseding indictment adds a conspiracy charge against him. Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on March 31, 2021. He was arraigned on Nov. 16, 2021, in the District of Columbia.
According to the indictment, in the fall of 2020, Badalian, Rodriguez and others created a Telegram group chat, called the "Patriots 45 MAGA Gang," and used it as a platform to advocate violence against certain groups and individuals that that either supported the 2020 Presidential election results, supported what the group perceived as liberal, or communist ideologies, or held positions of authority in government.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. The FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 10 months since Jan. 6, more than 675 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 210 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Defendant: Edward Badalian
Charges: Conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and other offenses
City and State: Los Angeles, California
Date: Nov. 17, 2021 (arrest), Nov. 23, 2021 (arraignment)
Outcome: Current status unknown
Related Federal Cases
- Edward Badalian, Conspiracy to Breach U.S. Capitol, CA 2021 · District of Columbia
- Badalian, Capitol Breach Conspiracy, California 2024 · District of Columbia
- John Doe, Capitol Riot, Washington DC, 2021 · Texas
- California Woman Charged for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Mayhem · District of Columbia
- Louis Enrique Colon, Capitol Breach, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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