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SANTA ANA, Calif .– A Southern California man has been arrested after being accused of joining the mob that stormed the United States Capitol as he attempted to impersonate a member of the media.
Matthew Thomas Purse, 45, was arrested in Irvine on Friday to face federal charges of entering and staying in a restricted building or land, disorderly and disruptive driving in a restricted building or land, disorderly driving in a Capitol building and parade, demonstration or picket in a Capitol building, the Orange County Register reported.
Purse was pictured inside the Capitol wearing a tactical vest and a black helmet marked with the word “press,” according to an unsealed criminal complaint Friday. There is no evidence that Purse has legitimate press references or is affiliated with a news organization, the FBI said in an arrest warrant affidavit accompanying the complaint.
Contacted by The Associated Press on Saturday, Purse said he was in the building as “part of a legitimate news organization.” He declined to name the news agency, saying he faced violent threats.
“The record will show that I was not there illegally,” Purse said.
Video footage shows Purse entering the Capitol on January 6 from the east side of the building, carrying a long black pole, with what appears to be a recording device at the end, and heading towards the rotunda, court documents show .
Purse was identified by a confidential source who saw him on live video, according to the FBI.
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