Veteran charged in Capitol attack works in Marine One unit

Veteran charged in Capitol attack works in Marine One unit

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Military records obtained by CNN show that John Andries served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2009 and was assigned to the Marine Helicopter Squadron One, the unit responsible for transporting the president, also known as HMX-1 . Andries was not a pilot, but his reports indicate that he was a helicopter crew chief.

It is not immediately clear to CNN whether he ever had any direct contact with former President George W. Bush or former President Barack Obama while serving in the helicopter unit, which requires higher security checks for members. Andries’ role in the presidential group was first reported by The Washington Post.

Prosecutors say Andries, 35, violated barriers outside the Capitol and entered the building through a broken window. Prosecutors said the video footage shows him touching a centimeter of officers with police in the basement of the complex, but not physically touching them.

The FBI received at least two tips from the public about Andries’ alleged role in the attack. According to court documents, FBI agents searched his home in January and saw him wearing the same jacket he was wearing in the Capitol.

He pleaded not guilty to five federal crimes: trespassing on a restricted building, disorderly conduct, violent entry into the Capitol, obstruction of passage through the Capitol, and illegal protest at the Capitol.

The Justice Department did not request his detention and a federal judge released him shortly after his arrest last month. He is not charged with violent crimes, and the five charges against him are offenses.

A lawyer for Andries did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on Thursday morning.

Veterans are disproportionately represented among the nearly 300 people facing charges in connection with the Capitol attack. At least 29 current and former service members have been charged so far, and several are allegedly part of extremist groups, according to a CNN analysis of Pentagon records and court documents.

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