Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – An Alabama man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Kaleb Dillard, 27, of Columbia, Alabama, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, a felony offense. U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled a sentencing hearing for Oct. 27, 2023.
According to court documents, Dillard traveled from his home in Alabama to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. After the rally, Dillard made his way to the Capitol building and emerged at the front of the crowd gathered near the East Rotunda Doors. Here, court documents say that Dillard used a metal tool to smash a window of the doors.
Court documents say that, at approximately 2:26 p.m., Dillard forced his way past officers attempting to close the doors and entered the Capitol building. Dillard then grabbed a U.S. Capitol police officer, who was attempting to close the doors, from behind and threw the officer to the ground.
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. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Dillard as #166 on its seeking information photos, and the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office. Valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s Mobile Field Office and the Charleston Resident Agency of the FBI’s Columbia Field Office, as well as the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.