A Virginia man, Ryan Joseph Orlando, was arrested on Wednesday for his involvement in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Court records reveal that Orlando, wearing a Captain America backpack, entered the Senate floor and took items from senators’ desks. He reportedly stole a pen from Senator Susan Collins and a drink coaster from Senator Joe Manchin.
Orlando, 28, from Arlington, Virginia, faces charges including theft of government property, disorderly conduct, and unauthorized entry into the House of Congress. Surveillance footage captured him entering the Capitol through a fire door on the west side of the building, wearing a black mask and a Captain America-themed backpack. He was also seen recording video on his phone as he walked around the Capitol.
After senators had evacuated the floor, Orlando and other rioters entered the Senate chamber around 3 p.m. on January 6. C-SPAN footage shows Orlando going through documents on senators’ desks, possibly taking photographs. He was seen removing a pen from Senator Collins’ desk and placing it in his pocket, as well as taking a white coaster from Senator Manchin’s desk. Police eventually led him out of the chamber, but he reentered the Capitol through a broken window and remained inside for several more minutes.
It is worth noting that approximately 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Out of those, nearly 900 have pleaded guilty or been convicted, and over 700 have already been sentenced. The sentences range from three days to 22 years in prison.
The arrest of Ryan Joseph Orlando serves as another development in the ongoing investigation into the events of January 6, highlighting the efforts to hold individuals accountable for their actions during the Capitol riot.
