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Defendant, a Practicing Attorney, Illegally Entered Capitol Within Minutes of the Initial Breach
August 4, 2023 - WASHINGTON - A Georgia man was sentenced today on felony and misdemeanor charges 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.
William McCall Calhoun, Jr., 60, of Americus, Georgia, was ordered to serve 18 months in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, as well as entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Calhoun is a practicing attorney in the state of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich heard the case in a bench trial and delivered her verdict on March 21, 2023, in the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Friedrich ordered Calhoun to serve 24 months of supervised release and pay restitution of $2,000.
According to the government’s evidence, starting on Jan. 6, 2021, local and federal law enforcement received tips regarding an individual named McCall Calhoun, a practicing criminal defense attorney, who posted about his involvement in the Capitol Riot on Parler, Facebook, and Twitter. Prior to January 6th, Calhoun posted about certification of the electoral college vote and the importance of being physically present in Washington, D.C. on January 6th.
Evidence shows that he attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6th, then made his way to the Capitol building. Calhoun walked up the West side of the Capitol grounds, continuing even as smoke rose from the crowd and people were affected by tear gas. As he approached the Senate Wing Door, Calhoun stated, “This is it. We’re storming the Capitol.”
Calhoun entered through the broken Senate Wing Door as an alarm blared. Calhoun walked through the Capitol, encountered a police line in the Crypt, and went back and forth from the Rotunda multiple times before ultimately leaving through the East side of the Capitol. One video depicts Calhoun amongst other rioters who pounded on doors and walls as they passed by members’ offices. Calhoun stated in the video that they were “looking for people.” Calhoun ultimately made it to the outside of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Office.
Later on the 6th, Calhoun posted on Facebook: “Today the American People proved we have the power. We physically took control of the Capitol building in a hand to hand hostile takeover. We occupied the Capitol and shut down the Government – we shut down their stolen election shenanigans . . .”
Calhoun was arrested on Jan. 15, 2021, in Macon, Georgia.
The case was 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 Middle District of Georgia.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Source: DOJ Release
