Oct. 3 UPI — Two brothers from Iowa and Utah have been arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers during the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to an announcement from the Justice Department on Thursday.
Their actions interrupted a joint session of Congress that was in the process of certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Christopher Jordan, 48, of St. George, Utah, and Earl Jordan, 50, of Dickens, Iowa, face felony charges for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, as well as obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, according to a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. They are also charged with several misdemeanors, including knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted area, and disorderly conduct within the Capitol building.
Christopher Jordan was arrested in St. George, Utah, and is set to make his initial court appearance there, while Earl Jordan was apprehended in Spencer, Iowa, and will appear in court in the Northern District of Iowa.
The brothers were recorded on police body camera footage near the north scaffolding, a focal point of the riot, where they confronted law enforcement officers. According to the Justice Department, when a police officer brushed past Earl Jordan, he allegedly elbowed the officer, causing him to lose his balance.
Despite attempts by police to de-escalate the situation and create a barrier between the Capitol and the rioters, the Jordan brothers persisted in their aggressive actions. Later, Earl Jordan was seen on video throwing a piece of sheet metal fencing towards the Capitol’s north door while officers worked to restore order.
Federal prosecutors stated that the brothers ignored police commands to “get back” and that Earl Jordan was filmed swiping at an officer’s face and then grabbing him by the throat. Meanwhile, Christopher Jordan was seen trying to wrestle a baton from another officer.
The footage shows the brothers remaining on Capitol grounds into the evening. Over 1,500 individuals have been charged in connection with the Capitol breach, with more than 560 facing charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Justice Department.