WASHINGTON — Texas is 1,500 miles away from the nation’s capital, but dozens of people from the state have been arrested for their participation in the chaotic protest that led to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The number of participants is one of the largest groups of defendants of any state in the nation.
What You Need To Know
- The number of Texas participants in the U.S. Capitol breach comprises one of the largest groups of defendants of any state in the nation
- Texans face felony charges ranging from threats of violence to assault with a dangerous weapon
- Like many of the cases, the charges against the Texans started off based on tips. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday the Justice Department has received more than 300,000 tips from the public and scanned over 20,000 hours of video footage
- More than 60 Texans are facing charges brought by the Justice Department in connection with the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. One year later, five Texans have been sentenced and most of the cases remain pending
“We’re all going to be up here, we’re going to be breaking those windows,” Jenna Ryan said in a video of herself she posted on social media that day.
The Frisco realtor was sentenced to 60 days behind bars after pleading guilty to parading, picketing or demonstrating in the Capitol. She was also fined $1,500 for damages to the building. After she went in the building, she tweeted, “it was one of the best days of my life.”
Guy Womack, Ryan’s Houston-based attorney, said in hindsight she would not have went into the Capitol and did not realize at the time it was trespassing. Womack said he believes her punishment was “overly harsh” and the federal judge tried to make an example out of her because of her public comments on social media or in television interviews.
“They weren’t complaining that she should go to jail for having walked into the Capitol 10 feet, stood there for less than two minutes and walked out. She did nothing violent, did not encourage any kind of protesting at all. She merely watched, realized it wasn’t for her, she turned around and left,” Womack told Capital Tonight.
Ryan is one of more than 60 Texans facing charges brought by the Justice Department in connection with the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. One year later, five Texans have been sentenced and most of the cases remain pending.
Five members of the Munn family from the Panhandle face multiple charges including disorderly conduct. Investigators said surveillance footage showed them climbing through a broken window.
According to the charging document, the mother, Dawn Munn, wrote in a Facebook conversation, “We went in and stormed [the] capital!” Her attorney, Heather Shaner, said last month she handed Dawn Munn all the evidence that the government has in the case against her so far.
“It’s her responsibility to review the evidence and then she’ll have to decide how she wants to go forward, if she wants to go to trial on the four charges, or if she wants to plead, should the government offer her a plea,” Shaner told Capital Tonight.
Other Texans face felony charges ranging from threats of violence to assault with a dangerous weapon.
Christopher Grider, a winery owner from Central Texas, is accused of helping strike the glass doors to the House chamber. According to the affidavit, Grider is seen handing a black helmet to another person who then used it break the glass. The court document said video showed Grider attempting to push open and kick the doors.
His Houston-based attorney, Brent Mayr, said while they are in the pre-trial phase and reviewing evidence, Grider maintains his innocence when it comes to his more serious felony charges related to destruction of government property and obstruction of an official proceeding. Mayr said Grider right now is committed to taking care of his family, business and community.
“A lot of individuals, like any person’s aunt or uncle or cousin or grandparent, that went to Washington, D.C. not intending to commit any crime or do any harm got swept into this,” Mayr said. “We have to exercise caution to not just sort of sweep everyone into this dragnet, and try to, you know, try to prosecute individuals that don’t deserve to be prosecuted to the extent that they are.”
Like many of the cases, the charges against the Texans came from tips. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday the Justice Department has received more than 300,000 tips from the public and scanned over 20,000 hours of video footage. Garland said many more people are being sought.
“The Justice Department remains committed to holding all Jan. 6 perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law — whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy,” he said. “We will follow the facts wherever they lead.”
