WASHINGTON – A Tennessee resident, Michael Tyler Roberts, has pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol. The breach disrupted a joint session of Congress that was in the process of certifying the 2020 presidential election results.
Roberts, 34, from Knoxville, Tennessee, admitted to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is scheduled to sentence Roberts on December 6, 2024.
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Court documents indicate that Roberts was part of a group near the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, a location where some of the most violent confrontations with law enforcement occurred that day. At approximately 3:54 p.m., Roberts was seen climbing over other rioters to reach a line of police officers defending the entrance. He then used his hands to forcibly engage with the officers, grappling with them and making physical contact for about three minutes.
Roberts was arrested by the FBI on November 1, 2023, in Tennessee. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee providing significant assistance.
The FBI’s Knoxville and Washington Field Offices led the investigation, identifying Roberts from a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) notice. Support was also provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Since the events of January 6, 2021, more than 1,450 individuals across nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach. Over 500 of these individuals face charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation is ongoing.
For those with information, tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or by visiting tips.fbi.gov.
Source: Read Original Release
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