The FBI has arrested two Steuben County men for their alleged conduct during the January 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. 53-year-old Charles Schimmel, Senior, and 23-year-old Logan Schimmel, both of Prattsburgh, are charged with felony obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, the Schimmels attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., and afterward made their way toward the U.S. Capitol building, arriving at the Northwest Capitol stairs near the Inauguration scaffolding. Open-source video footage depicts the Schimmels at the front of a crowd of rioters, fighting and shoving against a police line.
As the crowd pushed against the police line, the line moved backward. Eventually, the crowd cut open the exterior canvas of the Inaugural scaffolding, and the crowd, including the Schimmels, began to climb through the scaffolding and up the Northwest Capitol stairs. It is alleged that the Schimmels then aided the crowd of rioters in pushing past police officers on the stairs, surging past fallen barricades. Court records say that Charles Schimmel grabbed a U.S. Capitol Police bicycle and moved it away from the crowd of rioters.
It is alleged that the Schimmels were among the first rioters inside the Capitol building, entering at about 2:14 p.m., approximately one minute after rioters had kicked down and smashed the Senate Wing Door and adjoining windows. Once inside, the Schimmels made their way to multiple locations inside the Capitol, including the Crypt, Rotunda, Speaker of the House office suite, Senate Minority Leader office suite, East Foyer, and Senate Wing hallway before exiting the building at about 3:14 p.m.
Court documents say that the Schimmels and other rioters remained on Capitol grounds for nearly two hours after leaving the building. At about 4:49 p.m., the Schimmels allegedly were present on the Northwest stairs as police officers formed a line in an attempt to clear the area of rioters. As the police line approached the Schimmels, the two men allegedly leaned backward against police riot shields in order to resist the advancement of the officers.
It is alleged that the Schimmels ignored repeated commands from police to move back and instead continued to push against the line. Eventually, at about 4:55 p.m., police succeeded in moving the crowd, including the Schimmels, down the stairs and away from the building. At about 4:58 p.m., the Schimmels again allegedly stopped and leaned their bodies back against the police line. Court documents say that the Schimmels were among the last rioters to leave the area.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Buffalo and Washington Field Offices. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
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