A police officer is accused of obstructing the investigation into the robbery of the Capitol

A Capitol cop from USA He was accused this Friday of obstruction of Justice in relation to the assault on Congress on January 6 by a mob of radical followers of the former president Donald Trump (2017-2021).

The agent Michael A. Riley He is the first cop working on Capitol security on January 6 who is charged with allegedly trying to help one of those responsible for the assault.

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Riley, 50, was arrested on Friday and appeared at a court hearing by videoconference from his cell, from which he will be released shortly while awaiting trial.

The agent faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for two counts of obstruction of justice, according to the newspaper The Washington Post.

Riley was not in the Capitol at the time of the assault, but he was on guard around the building.

The prosecution maintains that on January 7 the policeman sent a private message through Facebook to a person who had posted videos and selfies on that social network about his participation in the assault.

Although Riley did not know him personally, both had become “friends” in that social network due to their common affinity for fishing, and the policeman wrote to advise him to remove those images that incriminated him as a participant in the assault.

“I am a Capitol Police officer who agrees with your political views. Delete the part (of your posts that shows) that you were in the building. Right now they are investigating and they are going to accuse everyone who was in the building. Just a tip! ”, Riley wrote, according to the indictment document.

The two continued to write to each other until the other person, who the prosecution does not identify, told him that he was worried that they would press charges against him and Riley asked him to call him on the phone. The two spoke for 23 minutes.

On January 19, that man was arrested and interviewed by the FBI, and later wrote to Riley to let him know that federal agents had asked him about his conversations with the police officer and that they had “downloaded everything” in his file. cell phone.

Riley replied that it did not happen “any“And proceeded to delete all messages from his conversations with that man, according to the indictment.

In September, the Capitol Police announced that they had recommended disciplinary action against six officers for their conduct during the assault on Congress, but it is unclear if Riley is among them.

The police response to the assault on Capitol It drew criticism, especially after videos were released showing some officers apparently removing protective barriers around the building and taking photos with members of the mob.

Other policemen have been praised for their heroism, and seven of those who were attacked that day sued Trump in August, whom they accused of having incited violence with his baseless statements about electoral fraud.

Authorities estimate that on January 6, some 10,000 people marched to the Capitol and about 800 stormed inside the building to prevent the victory of now US President Joe Biden from being ratified.

Five people were killed and about 140 officers were attacked by pro-Trump protesters.

So far, more than 550 people have been indicted on charges related to the assault, including 165 people charged with crimes of assault on the authority.

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Deshawn