Utah man and his brother arrested in relation to Jan 6 Capitol breach
Oct 3, 2024, 1:27 PM | Updated: 1:30 pm
(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — A Utah man and his brother from Iowa have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting law enforcement, among other charges, related to the breach of the US capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
According to a press release from the District of Columbia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, the two brothers are identified as Christopher Jordan, 45, of St. George, Utah, and Earl Jordan, 50, of Dickens, Iowa.
Alleged criminal offenses
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:04 p.m., the brothers were present on the West Front of the US Capitol grounds in Washington, DC. Footage captured by police body-worn camera from the Metropolitan Police Department showed the two brothers in the area near scaffolding, in an area that “became a flashpoint during the day’s unrest,” the release states.
The brothers were said to be seen confronting law enforcement officers. The release states that as officers made their way through the crowd on the Lower West Terrace, an officer brushed past Earl Jordan. It is reported that Earl Jordan threw his elbow at the officer, knocking the officer off balance.
Officers then attempted to clear Earl Jordan from the area, and the release states that Christopher Jordan “lunged toward another officer.” Officers told the brothers to “get back,” but the brothers reportedly continued aggressive behavior.
“Earl Jordan was allegedly captured swiping at an officer’s face before grabbing the officer by the throat in another encounter,” the release states. “Simultaneously, Christopher Jordan engaged another police officer, pushing and attempting to wrest control of the officer’s baton.”
The brothers eventually disappeared into the crowd, allowing officers to regroup behind their line, according to the release.
Later, both brothers were reportedly seen in video footage near the north door of the Capitol. Earl Jordan is seen picking up a piece of metal fencing, and “hurling it toward the North Door as officers struggled to prevent rioters from breaching the building.”
The release states the brothers remained on Capitol grounds until the evening hours of Jan. 6, when officers successfully cleared the area.
Brothers facing charges
Their charges include felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, the release states.
The two men are reportedly also charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.
New: Brothers Christpher Jordan of St. George, Utah and Earl Jordan of Iowa, have been arrested for assaulting law enforcement and other charges during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach: https://t.co/DGRzCzhogw@USAO_DC, @FBIOmaha, @FBIWFO pic.twitter.com/ZXvbDdiZxz
— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) October 3, 2024
In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, the release reports that more than 1,504 individuals have been charged “in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the US Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.”
The investigation is still ongoing.