Man seen with zip ties in riot on Capitol Hill, mother confined to home ahead of trial

A federal judge on Monday authorized the release of a Georgian woman and her son from Tennessee for involvement in the January 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol.

Lisa Eisenhart is accused of breaking into the Capitol with her son, Eric Munchel, who was pictured wearing flexible plastic handcuffs in the Senate Chamber.

US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth in Washington, DC, authorized the release of Eisenhart and Munchel to “third party custodians” and placed them under house arrest with other conditions. They will have their locations monitored and will not be able to use the internet or contact others involved in the events of January 6.

These conditions had previously been established by a federal magistrate in Tennessee.

The two had previously been remanded in custody, but a District of Columbia federal appeals court ruled on Friday that lower courts “have offered no plausible explanation why these strict (release) conditions would not reasonably guarantee the public security.

“Putting it all together, because the record strongly suggests that Munchel and Eisenhart would pose no security risk if placed on strict release conditions, the district court clearly erred in concluding that the government had proven its cause with clear and convincing evidence.

After the appeals court ruling, federal prosecutors withdrew a petition to detain the couple pending trial.

Eisenberth and Munchel are heard on April 13 by video conference in Federal Court in Washington, DC. They are accused of violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds, conspiracy and civil unrest. They could each face up to 20 years if found guilty.

Prosecutors said both men wore tactical and bulletproof vests in the Capitol and that Munchel carried a stun gun. Munchel also recorded their storming of the Capitol, and prosecutors say the video shows the pair of weapons hidden in a bag before entering the building. A search of Munchel’s house in Nashville revealed assault rifles, a sniper rifle with a tripod, shotguns, pistols, hundreds of rounds and a drum magazine.