October 20, 2024 – WASHINGTON – A New York man pleaded guilty on Friday to felony civil disorder 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.
Christopher Douglas Finney, 32, of Hopewell Junction, New York, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of civil disorder before U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. Judge McFadden will sentence Finney on Jan. 24, 2025.
According to court documents, Finney traveled from his home in New York State to attend a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. While waiting near the Washington Monument for the rally to begin, Finney recorded himself asking, "what's the building where they're doing the counting at?" and after receiving an answer, stated, "we're going up to the Capitol, eventually. We're gonna storm the Capitol. They're not gonna keep us outta there. We're gonna make sure that this is done correct and that Donald Trump is still our president."
When he made the recording, Finney was wearing plastic goggles with a red border and a protective plate carrier vest with pouches containing white plastic flex cuffs and a silver canister similar to a container for chemical spray. Before leaving the area near the Monument, Finney repeated, "We're gonna storm the Capitol. We're gonna do this correct. We're not gonna back down, stand down, we the people will not be silent anymore." Finney was also recorded wearing a knife in a holster on his right hip.
Finney entered the restricted perimeter around Capitol grounds and toward the West Lawn and gestured for the crowd to follow him. Finney recorded his approach to the Capitol across the lawn and as he scaled a wall. Finney remained near the Capitol's West Front, moving from the scaffolding at its southwest corner to covered scaffolding above the northwest steps. Finney then ascended the steps, breached a police line leading to the Upper West Terrace Northwest Courtyard, and approached the Senate Wing Doors.
At approximately 2:14 p.m., Finney entered the Capitol building through the Senate Wing Doors. Once inside, he turned north, encountered police, and hastily retreated, climbing out of a broken window. Finney re-entered the building through the Senate Wing Doors. After re-entering, Finney made his way through the Crypt and the OAP (Office of the Attending Physician) corridor and eventually exited the Capitol through the Memorial Doors.
Finney eventually made his way to the Capitol's Lower West Terrace, where he joined other rioters, including several carrying makeshift weapons, outside of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. There, rioters were struggling to forcibly breach a police line preventing the mob from accessing the Capitol's interior. One rioter yelled, "Push, push, push," and Finney responded by joining a crowd in a group push against the police line. The force from the group push reached officers in and behind the first line of officers, while rioters at the front of the group push made direct physical contact with officers at the front of the police line.
Finney remained on the Lower West Terrace, watching and recording as other rioters violently attacked officers defending the Lower West Terrace exit. He remained within the Capitol's restricted perimeter until after dark.
The FBI arrested Finney on Feb. 8, 2024, in New York.
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 New York.
This case is being investigated by the FBI's New York 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.
Attachment: finney_sof.pdf [PDF, 3 MB]
signed_criminal_complaint_redacted.pdf [PDF, 287 KB]
Source & photos: DOJ Release
