Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON — A Kentucky man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to 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 presidential election.
Barry Saturday, 43, of Lexington, Kentucky, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of civil disorder. In addition to the felony, Saturday is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.
Saturday was arrested today in Lexington and made his initial appearance in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
According to court documents, Saturday was identified on closed-circuit television (“CCTV”) footage among the crowd of rioters at the U.S. Capitol building and grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. In this footage, Saturday is seen participating in a coordinated “heave-ho” push against a police line in the Lower West Terrace tunnel.
Court documents say that at approximately 2:54 p.m., Saturday is seen approaching the entrance to the tunnel and advancing through the crowd while taking pictures or videos with his cell phone. Saturday is then seen advancing closer to the police line while the crowd of rioters in the tunnel begins a coordinated “heave-ho” push against the officers. Saturday then leaves and reenters the tunnel serval times before rushing forward toward the police line and pushing against the backs of other rioters. Video footage shows Saturday putting his head down to brace himself as he continues to join others in the coordinated “heave-ho” effort. Shortly afterward, law enforcement officers succeed in pushing the rioters, including Saturday, out of the tunnel entrance.
Saturday remained among the crowd of rioters until approximately 4:15 p.m. before making his way back to the mouth of the tunnel and again pushing against the police line with other rioters. At about 4:18 p.m., Saturday makes his way further into the tunnel and joins another “heave-ho” effort. Saturday and other rioters were then forced from the tunnel as law enforcement officers deployed pepper spray.
Court documents say that Saturday then reappeared on CCTV at approximately 4:26 p.m. at the tunnel’s entrance wearing goggles that covered both his eyes. In the CCTV footage, it appears that Saturday is observed assisting other rioters while confronting law enforcement. Soon thereafter, a violent struggle ensued between law enforcement and rioters, and Saturday disappears from the camera’s view. Court documents state that Saturday remained in the Lower West Terrace tunnel and the surrounding area for at least 1 hour and 36 minutes, from 2:50 p.m. to 4:26 p.m.
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 Eastern District of Kentucky.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Louisville and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by 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.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.