Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay
February 21, 2024 - WASHINGTON – An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement 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.
Matthew Honigford, 31, of Delphos, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in the District of Columbia to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan scheduled sentencing for Aug. 19, 2024.
According to court documents, Honigford traveled from his home in Ohio to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. After the rally, Honigford made his way to the Southwest Plaza of the U.S. Capitol building with a group of amassed rioters. At approximately 2:30 p.m., Honigford was positioned at the front of the crowd of rioters that had breached police lines and gained access to a set of stairs on the Southwest Plaza. As rioters overwhelmed police, officers retreated, and rioters pursued with Honigford at the front.
Here at the Southwest Plaza, body-worn camera footage shows Honigford holding a flagpole horizontally in front of his body with both hands. He is then seen pushing the flagpole into an MPD officer's chest area, and a struggle ensued. Honigford then advanced with the crowd to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol, assembling on the steps in front of a police line that officers formed with metal bike racks to act as a barrier against the crowd.
Court documents say that from approximately 2:44 to 2:46 p.m., Honigford repeatedly touched or attempted to touch Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in the police line with his hands, stating he was praying for them. When officers asked Honigford to stop, Honigford responded, "How am I supposed to bless you guys?" Honigford continued to reach his hands out toward the officers until other rioters told him to stop, and he turned toward them to say, "I'm trying to f— pray, guys."
At about 2:46 p.m., Honigford grabbed a metal bike rack barricade and used his body to push it against the police line. An MPD officer pulled on Honigford's jacket in an attempt to prevent him from pushing the barrier; however, Honigford leaned away and kicked the bike rack against the officer.
The FBI arrested Honigford on Nov. 21, 2023, in Ohio.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio provided valuable assistance.
The FBI's Cleveland and Washington Field Offices investigated this case and listed Honigford as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #506 on its seeking information photos. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 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.
Source: DOJ Release
