Two police officers who were not on duty, who allegedly took part in the attack on the US Capitol last week and took selfies during the riot, are now facing federal charges, prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson each face one case that they knowingly entered and remained in a restricted building, as well as one violent trespass and disorderly conduct on capital grounds. They were indicted in federal court on Tuesday and arrested on Wednesday.
The two officers from Rocky Mount, Virginia, who traveled more than 200 kilometers to attend the events in DC last week, are among dozens of people charged by federal prosecutors. The crowd of violent Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempted coup that left five people dead.
After the attack on the Capitol, the two police officers posted photos of themselves in the building on social media – and according to an affidavit, sent copies to their colleagues in the police department.
In a statement, the Rocky Mount Police Department said the officers were placed on administrative leave and the case is being reviewed.
In one post on social media, Robertson himself described the Capitol violation as an attack.
“CNN and Links are just crazy because we attacked the government for what the problem is and not some random venture,” he posted on social media, according to court reports. “The right took the f ***** American Capitol IN ONE DAY. Keep stabbing us.”
On Facebook and Instagram, Robertson added that he was proud that he was ‘willing to put skin in the game’. According to the affidavit, he claimed he was allowed into the building by Capitol police.
Although the selfie seemed to show them in the midst of committing a crime, Fracker dismissed the concerns about what his friends apparently raised on Facebook.
“Lol to anyone who might be concerned about the picture of me going around,” Fracker wrote. “Sorry I hate freedom? Sorry I fought hard for it and lost friends for it. Not like I did something illegal, MUST lose too much to go there, but do everything you feel you have to lol.”