Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay 

November 7, 2023 - WASHINGTON – An Indiana couple pleaded guilty on Monday to a felony charge for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their 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.

Arthur Reyher, 38, and Jessica Reyher, 38, of Brownsburg, Indiana, each pleaded guilty to a felony offense of civil disorder before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton in the District of Columbia. The couple is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2024.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Arthur and Jessica Reyher marched toward the U.S. Capitol building and were among the crowd of rioters who attempted to violently push their way past law enforcement officers guarding the Lower West Terrace Tunnel entrance. At about 2:43 p.m., the two entered the Tunnel just as rioters had broken through the doors and immediately joined with others in screaming and chanting. The two quickly pushed to the front of the crowd of rioters in the Tunnel and joined others in aggressively pushing against the assembled police line.

At about 2:50 p.m., Arthur and Jessica participated in a series of coordinated pushes against the police line in the Tunnel. Court records say that one rioter coordinated the mob’s efforts by making “1, 2, 3” gestures with his hand and yelling “PUSH!” Court documents say that Arthur and Jessica combined their body weight with others in the crowd to physically push back against the assembled police line.  

At about 2:51 p.m., police officers gained ground in the Tunnel and coordinated a counter push. The mob of rioters fell back, and the Reyhers were expelled from the Tunnel. At approximately 3:04 p.m., Arthur and Jessica reentered the Tunnel and again pushed their way to the front of the pack of rioters. The duo again joined with others and used their body weight to physically push, in unison, against the police line. At about 3:05 p.m., a chemical irritant was sprayed inside the Tunnel, causing the Reyhers to leave. The two then stood outside the Archway entrance and yelled “PUSH!” and patted rioters on the back as they entered the Tunnel.

Shortly thereafter, another individual came out from the Tunnel and yelled several times, “We are almost through!” Arthur Reyher then exclaimed, “PUSH!” and “OUR HOUSE!” At that point, another rioter turned to Arthur and Jessica and said, “Hey guys, are you going in or not? The couple then rushed into the Tunnel for the third time and joined the collective efforts to push against the police line. As the Reyhers thrust their collective body weight into the police line, one officer could be heard screaming in agonizing pain as they were smashed between a shield and a metal door frame. After their third time entering the Tunnel, the Reyhers exited once more.

At about 3:17 p.m., Arthur Reyher stood outside of the Tunnel and again joined rioters in repeatedly pushing in unison against the police line. The pushing continued for several minutes until police were able to expel the rioters from the Tunnel.

Arthur and Jessica were arrested on March 15, 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

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 Southern District of Indiana.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Indianapolis and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.