Ryan Samsel, Assault, Pennsylvania 2021

Related Federal Cases

Jonathan Grace, Capitol Riot Assault, Colorado, 2021 · Texas
RI Man Accused of Capitol Assault with Weapon · Texas
Michigan Man Jersey Accused of Attacking Capitol Police · Tennessee
Pennsylvania Man Charged for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Role · Louisiana
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Role · Louisiana

Table of Contents

Pennsylvania Man Charged for Assault on Capitol Police

A Pennsylvania man, 37-year-old Ryan Samsel of Levittown, has been indicted for his role in the assault of U.S. Capitol Police officers during the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Samsel was indicted on Aug. 25 on federal offenses that include assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; carrying out an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds; and obstruction of an official proceeding. He has remained in custody since his arrest on Jan. 30.

According to court documents, Samsel was captured in publicly available video taken of a crowd pushing and pulling on barricades on the west side of the Capitol. In the process of pushing the barricades to the ground, Samsel and others knocked over a U.S. Capitol Police officer, causing a head injury as the officer’s head hit the ground.

In another confrontation, according to court documents, Samsel attempted to pull a riot shield from a uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officer.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The investigation remains ongoing, with over 570 individuals arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.