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Defendant Spent 27 Minutes Inside Capitol Building; had to be forcibly removed by police
December 16, 2022 - WASHINGTON – A Maryland man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. 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.
Daniel Egtvedt, 59, of Oakland, Md., was found guilty of a total of seven charges, including four felonies. The verdict followed a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper.
Egtvedt was found guilty of four felony offenses, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; obstruction of an official proceeding, and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder; and 3 misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and violent entry and disorderly conduct in Capitol building.
According to the government’s evidence, Egtvedt forcibly entered the Capitol at approximately 2:47 p.m. through the Senate Wing Doors. As shown on U.S. Capitol Police security video, Egtvedt and numerous other individuals entered at that moment by pushing their way through a line of USCP officers. Once inside Egtvedt walked through the building, loudly accusing various police officers of being “traitors.” He also told another rioter, who was recording and live-streaming him, that other people should come down to the Capitol to disrupt the congressional proceedings.
Several minutes later, at approximately 3:10 p.m., Egtvedt was walking through the Hall of Columns. As shown on USCP security video and police body-worn camera video, multiple officers verbally directed the defendant to leave the building through a nearby doorway, which was in the direction he was already walking. The defendant, however, refused to comply and instead reversed course and headed back toward the building interior. When USCP Officer M.M. put her hand on Egtvedt’s chest, to direct him back toward the doorway, Egtvedt swatted her hand away and then grabbed onto her jacket. MPD Officer M.D., along with other officers, then assisted Officer M.M., and tried to pull Egtvedt away from her and re-direct him back toward the doorway. Egtvedt, who is over six feet tall and who weighed, at the time, well over 300 pounds, continued to try to move away from the doorway. As a result, he, along with Officer M.D., fell to the floor, which resulted in Officer M.D. injuring his right shoulder. Moments later USCP officers physically removed Egtvedt from the building.
Even after he was outside the building, Egtvedt remained on the Capitol grounds and approached two other doorways, trying to get back inside. During this period he again spoke to another rioter who was livestreaming, and again urged people to come down to the Capitol.
Egtvedt was arrested on Feb. 13, 2021, in Oakland, Md.
Egtvedt is to be sentenced on March 16, 2023. The obstruction conviction carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, the assault convictions each carry a statutory maximum of eight years in prison, and the civil disorder conviction carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison. The three misdemeanor offenses carry a combined statutory maximum of two years and six months of incarceration. All of the offenses carry potential financial penalties. The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Baltimore Division, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Maryland State Police, and the Garrett County (Md.) Sheriff’s Department.
In the 23 months since Jan. 6, 2021, close to 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 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.
Source: DOJ Release
