An active duty U.S. Marine Corps major has been arrested and charged for his participation in the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the latest example of American military veterans who participated in storming the U.S. Capitol — an institution they’d once sworn to protect.
Maj. Christopher Warnagiris, who is based in Quantico, Virginia, was charged with five federal offenses, including “assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees,” “obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder” and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds,” according to Department of Justice.
- In a press release Wednesday, the Justice Department alleged that Warnagiris “violently entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, after pushing through a line of police officers guarding the East Rotunda doors.”
- The Marine officer then allegedly held a door open to allow other rioters to enter the Capitol, and when a U.S. Capitol Police officer attempted to shut the door, “Warnagiris can be seen (in security camera footage) pushing the officer in an effort to maintain his position in the open door,” the Justice Department said
Warnagiris was identified to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “based on its photos of suspects wanted in the assaults on officers on Jan. 6,” according to The Washington Post.
- “Investigators said they corroborated Warnagiris’ identification through two government photographs of him and a co-worker at his military command who sees him several times a week and who recognized him from security and news footage of the event,” according to The Washington Post.
Warnagiris, who appeared in federal court Wednesday, said he was looking for a lawyer and then was let go on “personal recognizance,” reported the Post.
The Marine officer was identified as #241 in the FBI’s sprawling database of Capitol rioters.
- “The Marine Corps is clear on this: There is no place for racial hatred or extremism in the Marine Corps,” said Marine spokesman Maj. J.A. Hernandez, Task & Purpose reported. “Our strength is derived from the individual excellence of every Marine regardless of background. Bigotry and racial extremism run contrary to our core values.”
Many veterans helped storm the Capitol on Jan. 6
The Justice Department said it has arrested and charged around 440 people with crimes related to the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, and more than 125 of those face charges of assaulting or impending law enforcement.
- Although Warnagiris is the first active duty member of the military to be charged for their participation in storming the Capitol building, four current members of the National Guard or Reserves have been charged, according to The Associated Press.
- Overall, around 40 military veterans have also been charged, the AP reported.
- So far, roughly 10% of the rioters that have been charged by the Justice Department are military veterans, a bit higher than the 7% of America’s population that are vets.