What to know
- Thomas Webster surrendered at the FBI’s Hudson Valley office Monday on charges filed in federal court in Washington, DC in connection with the deadly riot at the Capitol on January 6.
- Webster, who lived in New York for 54 years and raised his three children with his wife, aside from time he served in the Marines, was honorably discharged and had no previous arrests, his attorney said.
- This latest development follows a large number of arrests and charges against a number of residents of three states in connection with the violent events that took place at the beginning of last month.
A retired NYPD officer for a time assigned to City Hall perimeter security and at Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence, has been accused of using a pipe to attack a U.S. Capitol officer during the siege of January 6. officials with knowledge of the matter told News 4 on Tuesday.
Thomas Webster surrendered to the FBI’s Hudson Valley office on Monday to be charged in the ongoing investigation. A day later, prosecutors in White Plains federal court said the former U.S. Marine had attacked a Capitol police officer with an aluminum pole while holding a Marine Corps flag. Webster then reportedly tore off a mask and caused the officer to suffocate, prosecutors said.
They described a look of anger at Webster, captured on video, which was a reflection of a man about to unleash violence. And they accused him of doing just that.
“These videos shock the conscience,” the prosecution said, claiming Webster “is going after that cop like a junkyard dog – with clenched teeth and clenched fists.”
Webster was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time, suggesting he was prepared for physical conflict, prosecutors added. The 20-year NYPD veteran brought a gun to Washington, DC, the day of the siege, prosecutors say. Webster claimed he left it at the hotel, but he wore thick clothes in the video footage shared by the FBI. Regardless, it’s against the law to only carry a gun in Washington DC
“We think he had a gun at the Capitol and thank goodness he didn’t fire a shot at the time,” prosecutors said.
Attorney James Monroe said Webster went to the Capitol that day in January to participate in a protest, but that he was not part of any group or organization. Monroe said his client was hit by the Capitol officer before retaliating; he has never fired a shot in his decades-long career with the NYPD.
Monroe said Webster, who was honorably discharged from the United States Marines and spent the rest of his more than 50 years raising his three children with his wife in New York, went to Washington that day in January to protest an event. on behalf of the first. president of the United States. He has no previous arrests.
The FBI had released an image, later identified by law enforcement officials as Webster, as part of their ongoing investigation into the violence last month. When Webster learned that his image had spread on social media, he went to Monroe, who told him the best way was to surrender in a show of good faith.
Webster handed over the weapons he owns of his own accord, along with his gun license and passport, Monroe said. Webster does not deny that he was the man in the red jacket featured in FBI-circulated video and images, Monroe said. But he said his client has no history of political activism and deserves “fair bail.”
Webster “poses no threat to the community. He has done a fantastic job as a husband and father,” said Monroe. The attorney offered to agree to control and travel restrictions as part of a deal to keep Webster out of prison pending trial. Monroe asked if Webster would be released on an unsecured bond. He said his client plans to plead not guilty. A judge agreed that Webster was not a flight risk, but ordered him to be held without bail because of the potential threat he could pose to the community.
FBI agents searched two New York City residents on Thursday over the Capitol riot.
Webster’s arrest is the latest in a series of charges against a growing number of residents of three states in connection with the events that took place early last month when a mob of former President Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
Nearly two months after the siege, the FBI continues to make arrests across the country. Since the violent riot, a number of residents of the three states have been arrested and charged with several crimes related to the fatal event, including a sanitation worker in New York City, the brother of a retired NYPD officer, an MTA employee and an Upper West . Side community leader.
Capitol Captain Carneysha Mendoza gave a riveting firsthand account of the deadly January 6 uprising, as she testified before two senatorial committees on Tuesday. “In the multitude of events I’ve worked on in my nearly 19-year career in the department, this was by far the worst of the worst,” said Mendoza.