A U.S. Navy contractor with ‘secret’ security clearance and access to military ammunition has been arrested after allegedly urging other members of the pro-Trump mob to ‘go ahead’ during the U.S. Capitol riots that killed five people has, the federal authorities said.
Timothy Louis Hale-Cusanelli of Colts Neck, New Jersey, is charged with entering the Capitol illegally, disorderly conduct inside the building and obstructing a police officer.
He is a 30-year-old member of the U.S. Army Reserve who, according to court documents, works as a contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle. He is also a white supremacist who worked to spread his extremist views online, the documents read.
According to authorities, Hale-Cusanelli told the Naval Criminal Investigative Service confidential information that he was at the deadly riot in Capitol on January 6 and showed cell phone videos of himself entering the building.
According to a criminal complaint, he also showed the informant videos of himself making “harassing and derogatory statements” to Capitol police officers inside and outside the building.
The informant described Hale-Cusanelli as a “recognized white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer” who posted YouTube videos featuring “extreme political opinions and views” on his channel called the Based Hermes Show as well as on other forums.
Before traveling from New Jersey to DC, Hale-Cusanelli wrote an online report saying, “Trust the plan, this is the final countdown, keep an eye on the next installment” and “and” Trust the plan, big announcement soon, “according to court documents.
In a recorded conversation with the informant, Hale-Cusanelli admits that he entered the Capitol on January 6 and encouraged others in the insane mob to ‘go ahead’ by giving them directions.
He told the informant that if they had more men, the mob could take over the whole building.
He also admitted that he took a flag and flagpole that he saw another riotous person throw a spear at a Capitol police officer, the complaint reads.
Hale-Cusanelli described the flagpole as a ‘murder weapon’ and said his intention was to destroy or dispose of the flag as soon as possible.