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Two officers on leave who allegedly participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week and took selfies during the riot are now facing federal charges, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson each face one count of knowingly entering and staying in a restricted building as well as one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on grounds of the capital. They were charged Tuesday in federal court and arrested Wednesday.
The two officers from Rocky Mount, Va. – who had traveled more than 200 miles to witness last week’s events in Washington – are among dozens of people who have been indicted by federal prosecutors. Crowds of violent Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempted coup that left five people dead.
After the Capitol attack, the two officers posted photos of themselves inside the building on social media – and sent copies to their colleagues in the police department, according to an affidavit.
In a statement, the Rocky Mount Police Department said officers have been placed on administrative leave and the case is under review.
In a social media post, Robertson himself described the Capitol violation as an attack.
“CNN and the left are just mad because we attacked the government which is the problem and not some random little business,” he posted on social media, according to court records. “Right IN ONE DAY took the f ***** US Capitol. Keep pushing us.”
On Facebook and Instagram, Robertson added that he was proud to have “wanted to put some skin in the game.” According to the affidavit, he claimed to have been authorized to enter the building by police from the Capitol.
Although the selfie appeared to show them committing a crime, Fracker dismissed concerns about it apparently raised by his friends on Facebook.
“Lol to anyone who might be concerned about the photo of me going around,” Fracker wrote. “Sorry, I hate freedom? Sorry I fought hard for this and lost friends for it. Not like I did something illegal, A LOT too much to lose to go there but you do what you think you owe lol. “
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