A Florida man has been convicted of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Richard Cook, 38, of Boca Raton, Florida, was found guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and five misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
Cook’s 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.
According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Cook joined a mob that relentlessly attacked police officers in one of the most violent areas of the Capitol riot – the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Court documents say that Cook entered the Tunnel on two occasions to join a collective push against police officers as the rioters tried to gain access to the Capitol building.
Cook was pushed out of the Tunnel but remained nearby on the Lower West Terrace, watching the continued attack. As the number of rioters in the Tunnel began to dwindle, Cook rushed back into the Tunnel. This time, Cook made it nearly to the front of the police line. He joined rioters screaming “HEAVE HO!” and pushed aggressively into the police line.
Cook’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The FBI’s Miami Field Office – West Palm Beach Resident Agency and Washington Field Offices investigated this case.
The FBI arrested Cook on March 9, 2023, in Florida. In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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