Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay 

April 26, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of assaulting law enforcement and multiple other charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and those 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.

            Joseph Pastucci, 50, of New Cumberland, Pennsylvanian, was convicted of three felony offenses, including obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

            In addition to the felonies, Pastucci was convicted of eight misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; entering and remaining in certain rooms in the Capitol building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Pastucci was convicted following a stipulated bench trial before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell. Judge Howell will sentence him on August 2, 2024.

            According to the stipulated facts, Pastucci and co-defendant Jeanette Mangia made plans to travel to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, to protest Congress’ certification of the Electoral College. Court documents say that Pastucci and Mangia knew that Congress was scheduled to certify the electoral college vote that day and believed that the presidential election had been “stolen” from then-President Trump.

            On Jan. 6, 2021, Pastucci and Mangia traveled from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, to the Washington, D.C., area to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally. After the rally, the couple walked down toward the U.S. Capitol building. Two minutes after the first breach, they entered the building via the Senate Wing Door and eventually made their way to and entered the Speaker of the House’s Office Suite.

            From there, the couple continued to traverse throughout the Capitol building before making their way into the Senate Chamber. Inside the Chamber, the couple walked on, inspected, and photographed the Senate Dais and rifled through documents. They remained in the Senate Chamber for approximately fourteen minutes.

            After leaving the Senate Chamber, between 3:04 p.m. and approximately 3:06 p.m., Pastucci and Mangia confronted police officers near the Senate Carriage Door. During this confrontation, the officers instructed Pastucci and Mangia to leave the building, but they refused. Pastucci was then physically pushed from the Capitol by a police officer. Pastucci resisted this officer’s efforts to push him from the building, including by grabbing a piece of furniture and using it to try and brace against the officer’s efforts. After being ejected from the Capitol and watching Mangia be removed from the Capitol, Pastucci shoved a United States Capitol Police Officer in the chest and shoulder area.

            After being physically removed from the Capitol and assaulting a police officer, at approximately 3:06 p.m., the couple reentered the Capitol via the Rotunda Doors and pushed their way into a crowd of rioters. The couple exited the building at approximately 3:27 p.m.

            The FBI arrested the duo on April 27, 2023, in Pennsylvania.

             Jeanette Mangia was arrested, indicted, and is currently awaiting trial for her role in the events of January 6th.

            The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle Pennsylvania provided valuable assistance.

            The FBI’s Philadelphia and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

            In the 39 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,385 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 500 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