October 10, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A California man pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, 2024, to assaulting law enforcement with a weapon and other 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.
Jerry Daniel Braun, 70, of South El Monte, California, pleaded guilty to six felonies, including one count of civil disorder; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, including one count involving the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon; one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and one count of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
In addition to the felonies, Braun also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds and one count of committing an act of physical violence in a Capitol Building or Grounds. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly will sentence Braun on Jan. 27, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, Braun traveled from California to Washington, D.C., and attended the “Stop the Steal” near the Ellipse. Braun then made his way toward the Capitol building and arrived in the area near the Garfield Circle around 12:53 p.m. He then entered the restricted area and advanced with a crowd of rioters toward a police line on the West Plaza. Braun then made his way to the front of the crowd of rioters, lowered his head, and pushed with the crowd against the police line.
At approximately 1:11 p.m., several rioters began to attack the line of police officers and dragged one officer into the mob. There, with the officer and rioters at his feet, Braun twice raised and swung a cane down at the individuals on the ground. Shortly after this incident, Braun approached a line of officers, pointed at them, and shouted, “F— you, traitor!” and “F— traitor. Traitor!” He then yelled, “We pay your f— pay!”
At about 1:13 p.m., law enforcement reinforcements arrived to expel rioters from the restricted area of the Capitol. In an attempt to control the crowd, authorities established a line of bike rack barricades to push the crowd back. Some in the crowd, including Braun, attempted to wrestle a section of the barricades away from police. Braun then used his cane to strike the bike rack barrier multiple times.
Later, at about 1:27 p.m., Braun picked up an eight-foot-long wooden 2x4 beam from the West Plaza and began to use the beam to point and thrust at police. On one occasion, Braun turned the beam vertically and used it to thrust into the line of police officers. Braun then used the beam to jab a person holding a camera wearing a helmet labeled “PRESS”. Braun then approached this person and struck them on the head with his left hand before again jabbing them with the beam. Braun remained inside the restricted perimeter until at least 4:00 p.m.
Jerry LNU was picked up near the intersection of H and 6th Streets, NW in Washington, D.C., and he was ultimately dropped off at the Holiday Inn National Airport located at 2650 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202. I am aware that the intersection of H and 6th Streets, NW in Washington, D.C., and the grounds of the U.S. Capitol are approximately 1.10 miles walking distance apart.
A portion of Jerry LNU’s Uber ride was captured on video by a video recording device located in the dashboard area of the Uber driver’s vehicle. I have reviewed the video recording of Jerry LNU’s Uber ride, which was received by the FBI’s Washington Field Office from the Uber driver.
The following conversation was captured on the video of Jerry LNU’s Uber ride:
a. Driver: “So, has it been violent all day?”
b. Jerry LNU: “Well, it started around, right when I got there. I tore down the barricades.”
c. Driver: “You did? Why?”
d. Jerry LNU: “Well, because, so we could get to the Capitol.”
e. Driver: “Well, how’d that work out for ya?”
f. Jerry LNU: “Well, it looks like, uh, Biden’s gonna be our president.”
The FBI arrested Braun on April 12, 2022, in California.
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 Central District of California provided valuable assistance.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 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.
Associated Documents
Source: DOJ Release
