WASHINGTON D.C. – Two Illinois brothers are facing prison time after admitting they actively assaulted law enforcement officers during the January 6th, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Daniel Leyden, 55, and Joseph Leyden, 56, both pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the chaotic breach, a day that saw Congress’s electoral vote count violently disrupted.
Daniel Leyden, of Chicago, willingly joined a mob that targeted officers near the Peace Circle around 12:50 p.m. that day. Court records detail how Leyden and others repeatedly shoved a heavy metal barricade into a line of U.S. Capitol Police, ultimately causing one officer to fall and become pinned. The barricade continued to be weaponized against other officers, knocking one unconscious and inflicting a concussion. Leyden’s actions weren’t about protest; they were a direct attack on those defending the Capitol.
His brother, Joseph Leyden, of La Grange, didn’t just stand by. At approximately 1:14 p.m. on the West Plaza, Joseph actively worked to dismantle the police perimeter by helping to pull metal barriers *into* the surging crowd. He then escalated the situation by lunging at and physically pushing a Metropolitan Police Department officer. This wasn’t a spontaneous act; it was deliberate interference with law enforcement trying to regain control.
Federal prosecutors are handling the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. The FBI’s Chicago and Washington Field Offices led the investigation, bolstered by crucial support from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. The feds have been relentless in tracking down those responsible for the assault on the Capitol, and these guilty pleas represent another step forward.
Daniel Leyden is scheduled for sentencing on September 6th, while Joseph Leyden will face the judge on August 29th. The Leyden brothers are just two of over 1,000 individuals arrested across the country in connection with the January 6th events – a sprawling investigation that continues to yield arrests and convictions. The scale of the operation highlights the gravity of the attempted disruption of American democracy.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as sentencing approaches. Anyone with information related to the January 6th Capitol breach is encouraged to submit tips to the FBI. This wasn’t a peaceful protest; it was a calculated attack, and those responsible will be held accountable.
RELATED: Illinois Men Plead Guilty to Felony Charge For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
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