Photo via @brandonstraka/Instagram, @yashar/Twitter
January 25, 2021, 2:53 pm
Brandon Straka, founder of the pro-Trump “WalkAway” campaign that encourages people to leave the Democratic Party, has been arrested and charged for his role in the January 6 assault on the Capitol. According to the criminal complaint issued by the FBI, they obtained video showing Straka urging the pro-Trump crowd to steal a police shield from a Capitol officer.
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Writer Yashar Ali posted screenshots of tweets announcing these facts with tweets from Straka boasting about a sexist tweet comparing the physical attractiveness of press secretaries, claiming that the next four years were going to be “the greatest.”
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Maybe not for him, though.
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According to local Omaha news, Straka has been hit with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and impeding police and “official functions” charges. He was still in federal custody as of 2:45 pm Central time and is schedule to appear before a judge on Tuesday.
Another funny detail in this case is the fact that in his tweets published during the insurrection, he stated plainly that it was not antifa who was responsible, but “freedom loving Patriots.” So he’s not going to be able to use the “antifa tricked me into rioting” defense.
When questioned by authorities, Straka claimed that he did not see any violence or vandalism take place during the riot — a claim that has been popular among people arrested for being a part of it. However, FBI agents obtained video of the activist speaking at the rally just before the insurrection, calling the event a “revolution” and encouraging attendees to “fight back.”
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The complaint also states that the FBI was tipped off about his involvement by a “relative” of Straka’s, so that has to hurt. But this is probably our favorite part:
“As individuals pushed past the officer toward the entrance of the U.S. Capitol, the officer held his shield up in the air. At around the 3:59 mark of the video, STRAKA stated, ‘Take it away from him.’ STRAKA and others in the crowd then yelled, ‘Take the shield!’ As several people in the crowd grabbed the officer’s shield, STRAKA yelled, ‘Take it! Take it!'”
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Obstructing a law enforcement officer can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison if the defendant is found guilty. This is a more serious charge than the typical trespassing and disorderly conduct charges that most of the arrested rioters have been slapped with.
If Straka doesn’t find a way out of this, the next four years of his life are unlikely to be his “greatest.”
*First Published: January 25, 2021, 2:53 pm
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