David Fitzgerald, 48, of Roselle, streamed live from the Capitol campus while being informed he had been arrested, and is charged with unlawful access, while entering the 6 p.m. violated. He pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday.
The ABC7 I-Team spoke to Fitzgerald after arriving home Friday afternoon. He told them he had gone to DC for the protest, but found himself among those in police custody, though he said he never set foot in the halls of Congress.
He was arrested after nightfall and charged with illegal access to the Capitol land. He was banned from DC and is due back in court in June.
“When we went to DC, we had a plan. We were going to feed the homeless, we were going to clean up the parks and protect the people,” Fitzgerald said. “And I also wanted to see what’s going to happen with the election. I do not know what’s going to happen. But I told my friends, whatever happens, we’re in it. I just wanted to be there, like, what’s going to happen. And what happened was so much crazier than anything you know. ‘
Bradley Rukstales, 52, of northern suburban Inverness, was also arrested in DC for illegal access to the Capitol.
Officials did not say whether the man entered the Capitol building or the area inside.
Rukstales is the CEO of Cogensia, a data-driven marketing company in Schaumburg, which announced on Friday night that he had been fired by their board of directors.
“This decision was taken because Rukstales’ actions were contrary to the core values of Cogensia. Cogensia condemned what took place at the US Capitol on Wednesday, and we intend to continue the values of integrity, diversity and transparency in our business operations. , and expects all employees to accept these values as well, ‘said Joel Schiltz, former chief operating officer and now acting CEO of Cogensia, in a press release.
In a tweet Thursday night, Rukstales said he entered the Capitol building.
“In a moment of extremely poor judgment after the January 6 demonstration in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors to the Capitol building to see what was going on inside. I’m in my for the first time. life arrested. and charged with illegal entry, “he said.” My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I very much regret that I did so. Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that has taken place in Washington. “
He further said: ‘I sincerely apologize for my indifference, and I deeply regret that my actions have embarrassed my family, colleagues, friends and countrymen. It was the worst personal decision of my life; no excuse for my actions and wish I could take it back. ‘
The emergency bell followed a violent attack on the Capitol building in America. DC police have issued ‘Be On The Lookout’ or ‘BOLO’ warnings to dozens of people who stormed the gates of Congress and spread through the holy halls, including a man with his feet on the desk of the house speaker Nancy Pelosi appears in the photo.
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On Thursday morning, the DC Metropolitan Police Department announced that 80 people had been arrested since the riots began, including five people with illegal guns, two others for illegal possession of other illegal weapons, 36 for violating the curfew and 25 for the violation of the evening clock and the illegal presence on Capitol. Grounds.
District authorities said the attackers were encouraged by President Trump himself during a protest a few blocks away.
“It is not just the president who must be held accountable; so also the domestic terrorists who stormed the capital and threatened members of Congress, what happened yesterday is terrorism in the textbook,” the DC mayor said. , Muriel Bowser, said during a press conference.
The fallout from Wednesday’s uninsured chaos has already begun. The Senate Sergeant will be fired, according to the Democratic leadership, and the Sergeant of Arms will retire after the Capitol is overrun.
Only one of those arrested in connection with the unrest was from DC, said Robert J. Contee, MPD chief.
Congress confirmed Democrat Joe Biden as the presidential election winner early Thursday after a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a blatant attempt to overthrow America’s presidential election, undermining the country’s democracy and to keep Trump in the White House.
ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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