Trump and some of his closest allies blamed infiltrators from the left-wing Antifa movement for inciting violence at the Capitol, despite evidence that the vast majority of the rioters and protesters in the city were pushing for Trump’s certification. the election of Elected President Joe Biden.
Trump and his supporters appear to be seizing Sullivan’s arrest as proof that the claim for infiltration is true. His group claims to oppose police abuse and right-wing violence, while some of his writings use the language used by the anti-fascist movement.
Sullivan claims in news interviews after the riot that he documents the events there as a journalist, but prosecutors claim he was a participant in the violence.
FBI Special Agent Matthew Foulger said in an affidavit the criminal charge supports that a series of statements Sullivan made on video encouraged the offense.
Foulger said that while the crowd was rushing with the Capitol building, Sullivan said, ‘We accomplished this shit. We did it together. Fok ja! We’re all part of this history, ‘and’ Let’s burn this shit. ‘
The indictment alleges that Sullivan rushed forward, saying he could help while rioters tried to break the glass in a set of doors in the Capitol. ‘Hey guys, I have a knife. I have a knife. Let me get up, “the activist apparently said.
The FBI apparently disputed Sullivan’s claim that he was a reporter. Foulger told the court that Sullivan “admitted that he had no press statements.”
“The investigation did not reveal any connection between Sullivan and any journalistic organizations,” the FBI agent said.
According to the federal complaint, Sullivan voluntarily gave the FBI copies of the video recordings he shot that day, many of which were posted online.
The criminal charge against Sullivan indicates that prosecutors take his case more seriously than most other cases against alleged rioters. Most who simply flocked to the crowd are charged with only the two offenses. The charge of civil disorder, under the Riot Act of 1968, carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Prison records show Sullivan was booked Thursday at the Tooele County detention center outside Salt Lake City. He will appear in federal court on Friday afternoon.