Capitol ‘rioter’ was turned in by his ex-girlfriend who called cops after he texted her to call her a ‘moron’ during the siege
- Pennsylvania man Richard Michetti sent several messages to his ex-girlfriend during and before the January 6 siege of the Capitol building, court docs show
- In one message, he called her a ‘moron’ and claimed that the election had been stolen before sending more texts including right-wing conspiracy theories
- On January 7, the woman gave the messages to the FBI along with pictures and videos Michetti had sent her from the riot
- Michetti was arrested in mid-February and charged with several crimes including obstruction of justice
Pictured: Richard Michetti using his phone during the Capitol riot
A man present at the Capitol riot was turned in by his ex-girlfriend after he called her a ‘moron’ in a text sent during the siege, recently unsealed court papers have revealed.
Richard Michetti, from Pennsylvania, sent several messages to the unnamed woman on January 6 – the day of the siege – as well as the night before, the documents allege.
Just after 2 p.m., Michetti texted the woman, saying: ‘it’s going down here we stormed the building they held us back with spray and teargas and paintballs.’
‘Gotta stop the vote it’s fraud this is our country’ one of the texts read.
The New York Daily Post reported that federal police said Michetti had also sent the woman two videos from the scene, which showed rioters inside the building as well as a ‘large interior room’ of the Capitol.
‘If you can’t see the election was stolen you’re a moron. this is our country do you think we live like kings because no one sacrificed anything?’ Michetti then texted.
Court documents state Michetti espoused conspiracy theories about voter fraud and left-wing protesters in subsequent messages to the woman.
‘The vote was fraud and trump won but they won’t audit the votes. We are patriots we are not revolutionaries the other side is revolutionaries they want to destroy this country and they say it openly,’ the documents quote Michetti as texting.
A day after the riot, the woman promptly gave copies of the texts to the FBI, along with the photos and videos Michetti had sent her.
A man present at the Capitol riot was turned in by his ex-girlfriend after he called her a ‘moron’ in a text sent during the siege, recently unsealed court papers have revealed. Richard Michetti (circled), from Pennsylvania, sent several messages to the woman on January 6 – the day of the siege – as well as the night before, the documents allege
Federal police said Michetti (highlighted) also sent his ex-girlfriend two videos from the scene, which showed rioters inside the building as well as a ‘large interior room’ of the Capitol
When investigators returned to the woman with pictures purportedly showing Michetti standing among the crowds of rioters and inside the Capitol, she was able to identify him.
He was arrested in mid-February and charged with obstruction of justice among other crimes.
Michetti is one of more than 250 people facing charges in connection with the riots, according to NPR. He is reportedly due to appear in U.S. District Court in Washington by video on Monday.
Michetti is just one alleged rioter to have been turned in by an ex-partner.
Vanity Fair reported that Larry Rendall Brock Jr was arrested and charged last month with violent entry and disorderly conduct after his ex-wife contacted the FBI and told them that she recognised him in a picture.
Brock Jr was seen wearing tactical gear and carrying zip tie handcuffs on the Senate floor during the siege.
Riley June Williams was hit with charges including disorderly conduct on Capitol property with an intent to disturb a session of Congress, after her ex-boyfriend claimed to FBI that Williams had stolen Nancy Pelosi’s laptop with intent to send the device to a friend in Russia.
A day after the riot, the woman promptly gave copies of the texts to the FBI, along with the photos and videos Michetti (highlighted) had sent her, leading to his identification, arrest and charging
