Three active-duty U.S. Marines have been arrested for allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
This week, Joshua Abate, Micah Coomer, and Dodge Dale Hellonen were arrested on charges of knowingly entering and remaining in the Capitol without lawful authority; disorderly conduct in the building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing while inside, according to court documents and docket entries.
The FBI gathered evidence from social media, phone records, military photographs, drivers’ licenses, surveillance footage and public images before the three were arrested on Jan. 18, according to an affidavit supporting the charges.
The footage showed the three entering the Capitol at approximately 2:20 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021, using the open Senate Wing Door. While U.S. Capitol Police tried to prevent people from entering the door, they were ultimately overwhelmed, and people began streaming into the building. No officers could be seen when the Marines entered. They went into the Rotunda and left the Capitol after about 52 minutes.
Another Marine, whose identity is unknown, identified Coomer who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, Hellonen, who carried a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, and Abate wearing a gray gap, from footage captured inside the Capitol.
During their time inside, they placed a MAGA hat on one of the statues in the Rotunda, surveillance footage revealed.
None of the men had lawyers listed on the docket, which states that Abate has appeared in court and been released.
The Marines confirmed that the men are enlisted.
“We are aware of an investigation and the allegations,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “The Marine Corps is fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities in support of the investigation.”
Coomer is a corporal who enlisted in September 2018 and is assigned to the 1st Radio Battalion based out of Base Camp Pendleton in California. Abate and Hellonen are both sergeants. Abate enlisted in 2018 and is based out of Fort Meade in Maryland. Hellonen is based out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Each was arrested in their respective state. All three men have received awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal.
Each defendant faces four charges and multiple years in prison.
During an interview as part of his security clearance in June 2022, Abate admitted that he had entered the Capitol, according to the affidavit, confirming that he went in with two friends.
One of the friends smoked a cigarette inside, according to Abate, reportedly saying they “walked around and tried not to get hit with tear gas.”
Because of the public reaction to the breach, Abate decided not to tell anyone that he had gone into the building.
Coomer, meanwhile, openly posted pictures from inside the Capitol on his Instagram page, according to the FBI, writing in one caption, “Glad to be apart of history.”
Coomer had written on his Facebook that he thought the 2020 election was unfair, according to records obtained by law enforcement.
“I just love how after years of trying to get [T]rump out of office by any means the left all of a sudden is going to have a ‘fair’ election,” one message said.
“One of my buddies here got a ballot for his cat that died three years ago,” Coomer also wrote. “It’s literally a joke to them.”
A different exchange from the account revealed Coomer saying “we honestly need a fresh restart” and suggesting he was ready for a civil war.
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