A South Carolina man, Thomas Andrew Casselman, was sentenced to prison for assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions, along with those 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.
Casselman, 30, of Walhalla, South Carolina, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. Casselman pleaded guilty to a felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers on March 21, 2024.
According to court documents, Casselman traveled from his home to Washington, D.C., and participated in the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Ellipse. After the rally, Casselman joined a crowd of individuals making their way toward the Capitol building. Casselman made his way toward the West Plaza of the Capitol grounds and positioned himself near the media tower in front of an established police line maintained by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers.
Casselman taunted officers with a copy of the U.S. Constitution, imploring them to face the Capitol, like the rioters were, rather than defending it. Minutes later, the police line began to fall as officers were overwhelmed by the size and violence of the crowd. Casselman deployed a canister of oleoresin capsicum (“OC”)-based spray in close range of several officers, directly hitting multiple MPD officers near their faces, leaving bright orange residue visible on their clothing and protective equipment.
Video footage shows the officers staggering backward and struggling to remain upright, significantly impairing their vision, which hindered their ability to protect themselves and do their job in defending the Capitol. Shortly after this assault, Casselman receded back into the crowd.
After participating in the events of January 6th, Casselman made multiple search inquiries online, including the statute of limitations for assault on a police officer, assault on a federal officer, and the definition of a domestic terrorist.
The FBI arrested Casselman on March 28, 2023, in Walhalla. 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, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
In the 42 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 530 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Related Federal Cases
- Jason Brian Barrett Charged with Assaulting Officer, Washington DC, 2021 · Washington
- Henry Enrique Tarrio, Destruction of Property, Washington D.C. 2021 · Washington
- Christopher Rockey, Capitol Assault, South Carolina 2021 · Washington
- SC Man Rockey Admits to Capitol Cop Assault · Washington
- Dylann Roof, Mass Shooting, South Carolina 2015 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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