William Robert Norwood III, a 37-365 days-extinct insurrectionist who claimed to absorb disguised himself as an Antifa protester for the length of the January 6 Capitol riots, has been arrested. He allegedly bragged to family participants in a text message team, “I got away with things” for the length of the riots.
The South Carolina resident’s own family participants reported him to trusty authorities. FBI brokers deem Norwood broke into Democratic Condominium Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s office and stole a memento drink coaster from the Capitol earlier than leaving, in response to court docket records. He now faces four federal expenses linked to his actions.
Norwood’s sibling, identified in court docket documents as T.D., shared screenshots of text messages whereby Norwood allegedly bragged about assaulting a Capitol police officer and stealing the officer’s helmet and vest.
“I’m dressing in all shadowy. I will peek trusty love ANTIFA… I will rep away with anything,” Norwood allegedly texted a minute chat team on January 5, in response to the trusty news online page Legislation & Crime.
Two days later, he texted the team, “It labored. I got away with things that others had been shot or arrested for.”
Norwood allegedly texted that for the length of the revolt, he seen Antifa—an abbreviation for anti-fascist protesters—being bussed to the Capitol and escorted into the building by police. Then again, FBI Assistant Director Steven D’Antuono has stated that the investigative federal guidelines enforcement company has came across “no indication” to make stronger any claims of Antifa’s involvement.
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Norwood extra allegedly claimed that after an officer shot Ashli Babbitt, an insurrectionist killed while searching to force her way into the Condominium antechamber, the officer “then allowed ‘ANTIFA Trump Supporters’ to assault him.”
“They had been ordered to enable Antifa to rep away with anything,” he allegedly texted. “I used to be one amongst them. I used to be there. I took his shit… I got helmet and physique armor off a cop for God’s sake and I disarmed him.”
Norwood then allegedly shared an image exhibiting himself wearing the police vest beneath his shirt.
Court docket documents deliver that Norwood allegedly claimed to absorb saved the lives of “several” law enforcement officers who had been attacked by Antifa, even supposing the identical officers had allegedly attacked him earlier within the revolt. Norwood claimed the officers had attacked him after they seen him wearing his crimson Manufacture The USA Vast All over again hat, a ballcap veritably faded by supporters of faded President Donald Trump.
Text message screenshots included in court docket documents articulate that Norwood called Brian D. Sicknick, the police officer who died within the riots, a “shitty cop” who “deserved it.”
When wondered by federal authorities on January 22, Norwood claimed that the big crowd in front of the Capitol had involuntarily shoved him inner of the building.
He advised FBI brokers that one more person had came across the police vest abandoned come the Capitol and build it on him. He also stated that he had ideal bragged about attacking a police officer within the text message team to “sound demanding.” Investigators stated that Norwood claimed most of his text messages had been unsuitable and intended mainly to provoke his sibling over their deep political disagreements.
Benjamin T. Stepp, the assistant federal public defender who represented Norwood for the length of his bond listening to in Greenville, South Carolina, advised Newsweek that Justice of the Peace Kevin McDonald ordered Norwood to be held with out bail. McDonald also current Norwood’s switch to Washington D.C. where his trial will be held. As such, Stepp’s trusty illustration of Norwood is entire and non-persevering with, Stepp stated.
Norwood traveled to Washington D.C. to again Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally whereby Trump continued to baselessly declare that an unprecedented nationwide conspiracy of voter fraud “stole” the election from him.
Five of us died within the rise up and roughly 140 law enforcement officers had been injured, in conjunction with one with a broken spine, a misplaced survey, misplaced fingers and some with mind wound.
Insurrectionists also shattered windows while searching to rep entry to congressional chambers, smeared feces within the hallway and stole computer gear, potentially constituting a national security breach.
Norwood’s declare about Antifa-linked insurrectionists echoes a the same conspiracy thought pushed by Republicans love North Carolina Representative Madison Cawthorn, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz and Alabama Representative Mo Brooks. All three previously blamed Antifa and Democratic-subsidized instigators for the violence on January 6.
