A Los Angeles County Republican Celebration government board member was arrested on costs associated to coming into the U.S. Capitol in the course of the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, in response to information experiences and social gathering officers.
Siaka Massaquoi, first vice-chair of the L.A. County Republican Celebration, was arrested Thursday by FBI brokers at a Los Angeles airport, reported Purple State, a conservative information media outlet for which Massaquoi is a columnist. Massaquoi was reportedly returning together with his spouse from Nashville, the place the couple attended the premiere of the Each day Wire’s new movie “Woman Ballers,” a controversial comedy mocking transgender athletes.
Massaquoi was taken into custody on misdemeanor costs together with trespassing, disorderly conduct and parading or demonstrating in a Capitol constructing, and he was held in jail in a single day and launched on a $1,000 bond Friday, Purple State reported.
A spokesperson for the Republican Celebration of L.A. County confirmed the arrest and mentioned extra data can be offered later.
In a put up Saturday on social media platform X, previously Twitter, Massaquoi shared a video clip of a livestream from contained in the Capitol on Jan. 6, writing: “Witness why I used to be raided 2 years in the past and just lately arrested and charged Nov thirtieth 2023 virtually 3 years later.”
Authorities raided Massaquoi’s North Hollywood residence in June 2021 due to his associations on “a social media app,” a regulation enforcement supply mentioned on the time. Massaquoi posted an Instagram video after the raid wherein he mentioned, “I did nothing improper on the sixth … did nothing violent.”
The 71-second video shared by Massaquoi on Saturday seems to point out him holding his cellphone as much as document or stream video amongst a couple of dozen protesters, some with their faces lined or sporting Trump 2020 hats, crowded on the threshold of a door into the Capitol. Dozens of Capitol Law enforcement officials, many in riot gear, fill the hallway and look like attempting to get the Trump supporters out of the constructing. A few of these within the video say they’re “attempting” to go away however are blocked by the crowds.
Massaquoi didn’t reply to requests from The Occasions for remark.
In feedback to Purple State, Massaquoi mentioned he was “grateful to Jesus for being with me and my household all through this unbelievable occasion.”
“Charlotte and I are so grateful for all of the love and help we have now acquired to date and know we’ll get by this with God’s grace. Thanks on your prayers and help,” Massaquoi mentioned.
The U.S. legal professional’s workplace for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case. The workplace didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Massaquoi, an actor whose IMDb credit embrace bit components on exhibits together with Fox’s “Deadly Weapon,” additionally filmed himself at a protest that shut down the COVID-19 vaccination website at Dodger Stadium in January 2021.
Occasions employees author Richard Winton contributed to this report.