Minnesota Man Pleads to Civil Disorder over Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, 34-year-old Paul Orta Jr. of Blue Earth, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder stemming from his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

According to court documents, Orta traveled from Minnesota to Washington, D.C. to attend the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the National Mall. At approximately 12:53 p.m., Orta was on the west side of the Capitol along First Street, where a crowd of rioters began to overwhelm officers at the Peace Memorial entrance and move onto Capitol grounds.

United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers retreated from the area and attempted to set up a new police line, but Orta and others pushed forward. As Orta advanced toward the Capitol and the retreating officers, he yelled, ‘We’re taking that s— today!’ Minutes later, Orta forcefully moved at least two temporary bike racks that were being used by law enforcement to control the crowd and threw them over a concrete wall.

Orta then continued forward with the crowd as they overwhelmed officers again and entered the West Plaza. By approximately 1:22 p.m., law enforcement officers began to push the crowd back away from the Capitol, and Orta lobbed a dark-colored object over the heads of rioters and towards a crowd of law enforcement officers.

At about 2:07 p.m., law enforcement officers again attempted to form a police line with the metal bike rack barricades to prevent those in the crowd from further advancing. Court documents say that at this time, Orta pushed a bike rack barricade against the police line and made physical contact with law enforcement officers during this push. He then pushed against another rioter, pushing against the bike rack barricade.

The crowd eventually broke through the police line and advanced to the Lower and Upper West Terraces. As the crowd pushed forward, Orta climbed on top of a concrete wall and raised a fist in the air.

The FBI arrested Orta on Nov. 14, 2023, in Minnesota. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota provided valuable assistance.

Orta will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on Oct. 7, 2024. 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.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.