WASHINGTON - A West Virginia mam pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
John Thomas Gordon, 47, of Davis, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Gordon was illegally on the Capitol grounds and took part in violence occurring shortly after 4 p.m. outside the North Door of the Capitol. Police officers were on the other side of the glass window in the door, attempting to secure the building. Shortly after officers sprayed chemical irritants to disperse the mob, Gordon yelled obscenities at officers behind the inner doors and began repeatedly throwing a heavy projectile at the inner doors. The crowd of rioters cheered as Gordon repeatedly threw the heavy projectile - at least four times. Gordon also kicked the door in attempts to destroy it to gain entry.
Gordon was arrested on July 8, 2022, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He is to be sentenced on March 13, 2023. He faces a statutory maximum of five in prison and potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office and its Martinsburg, West Virginia Resident Agency, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Gordon as #218 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 21 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 880 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 270 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
