Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay
May 13, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A Florida man was convicted on May 10, 2024, of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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.
A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Richard Cook, 38, of Boca Raton, Florida, guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and five 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, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton will sentence Cook on Aug. 28, 2024.
According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Cook joined a mob that relentlessly attacked police officers in one of the most violent areas of the Capitol riot – the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Court documents say that Cook entered the Tunnel on two occasions to join a collective push against police officers as the rioters tried to gain access to the Capitol building. Cook initially entered the Tunnel at approximately 3:12 p.m. and immediately made his way into the mob of rioters who were coordinating pushes against police officers while yelling “HEAVE HO!” and “PUSH!” While Cook joined in collective pushes, one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ pushes pinned him between a shield and a door.
Cook was pushed out of the Tunnel but remained nearby on the Lower West Terrace, watching the continued attack. As the number of rioters in the Tunnel began to dwindle, Cook rushed back into the Tunnel. This time, Cook made it nearly to the front of the police line. He joined rioters screaming “HEAVE HO!” and pushed aggressively into the police line.
Despite the prolonged pushing by Cook and the rest of the mob, officers were able to temporarily gain control of the Tunnel and push rioters, Cook included, out. Cook remained near the Tunnel, watching as rioters engaged in violent acts against police officers guarding the Tunnel entrance, including when rioters dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer out of the Tunnel and brutally injured the officer. Cook then remained near the mouth of the Tunnel for several hours as he watched and cheered on the continued attack against officers.
The FBI arrested Cook on March 9, 2023, in Florida.
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 Office for the Southern District of Florida provided valuable assistance.
The FBI’s Miami Field Office - West Palm Beach Resident Agency and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Cook was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #185 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 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
