A U.S. Capitol rioter pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor on Wednesday for taking part in the January 6 protest after the FBI were tipped off to his mother's Facebook post about him sitting in Nancy Pelosi's seat.
Russell James Peterson, 34, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, was arrested in February after the FBI discovered the online post from his mother Shelley Peterson, thanks to a concerned friend who tipped them off.
Shelley Peterson was with her son and his wife Elizabeth at the time of the rioting as they were seen pictured together in D.C. Russell Peterson was snapped wearing a 'F**k your feelings,' hoodie, while Shelley donned a Trump-emblazoned baseball cap for the occasion.
She allegedly captured two video livestreams on social media during the incident. They have not been released, although the FBI have shared snaps of Peterson inside the US Capitol captured on security cameras.
Russell James Peterson was pictured in a 'F**k Your Feelings' sweatshirt with mother Shelley Peterson in a Trump hat before storming the U.S. Capitol building on January 6
Peterson's wife Elizabeth (left) was also with him at the protest
Shelley Peterson claimed on Facebook that her son Russell sat on Nancy Pelosi's chair when they were in the Capitol building
During the trial, he talked to U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson about his 'fun' experiences in the building, which included using the restroom.
No indication, however, was given of Peterson sitting in the chair as there was no photo or video evidence available.
Peterson originally faced four misdemeanor charges before reaching a plea deal, which dropped to one misdemeanor charge of 'parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol buildings.'
Peterson (circled) was one of 600 protestors arrested for taking part in the protest
Peterson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor on Wednesday after the FBI discovered his mother's Facebook post
As per the plea deal, Peterson will be interviewed by law enforcement about the riots. He is also to give them access to his phone and social media accounts.
According to the Huff Post, The FBI has arrested more than 600 rioters who were involved with the event on January 6.
Another rioter from Idaho named Josiah Colt previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge after he also claimed he sat in Nancy Pelosi's chair and called her 'treasonous' on social media, according to Las Vegas Review Journal.
The famed rioter Jacob Chansley, also known as 'QAnon Shaman' also pleaded guilty to felony charges after he donned viking-like gear and took part in the storming.
The Capitol riots began following Trump's Save America Rally
Rioters were seen scaling walls as an attempt to get into the building
Jacob Chansley, also known as 'QAnon Shamon' (above), pleaded guilty to felony charges last week
The Capitol riots in D.C. were sparked following the controversial 2020 presidential race between former President Donald Trump and current U.S. President Joe Biden.
Pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol building on January 6 following a speech at Trump's Save America Rally made by the former president himself.
The crowd was angered due to sharing in Trump's belief that the election was stolen, and wanted to try and stop former Vice President Mike Pence from certifying Joe Biden's win at a ceremony at the Senate.
They then stormed the U.S. Capitol with police attempting to stop the crowd as areas of the building were being evacuated.
Shocking media footage showed rioters breaking into the building which included breaking windows and scaling walls to gain entry.
Shots were fired as rioters ran free throughout the building.
Five people died as a result of the Capitol storming.
The investigation remains ongoing as FBI officials continue to track down other protestors that were involved with the tragic incident.
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