The Division of Justice has arrested an active-duty Navy sailor on fees stemming from his exercise on the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
David Elizalde was arrested by the FBI on Sunday in Arlington, Virginia, on 4 federal misdemeanor fees, together with disorderly conduct contained in the Capitol constructing, based on courtroom paperwork.
Elizalde is now the fifth active-duty service member to be arrested by federal regulation enforcement for taking part within the rioting and destruction of Jan. 6 that was geared toward stopping the peaceable switch of energy after President Joe Biden received the 2020 election.
Learn Subsequent: House Drive Carried out Testing the Match on its Uniforms, Ending the Free Pants Saga
In line with the legal criticism in his case, Elizalde drove up on Jan. 5, 2021, to a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., from Norfolk, the place his plane provider, the united statesHarry Truman, was docked. The following day, the sailor informed investigators he moved with the group towards the Capitol.
“He walked across the scaffolding and located a set of stairs main as much as the U.S. Capitol, which weren’t blocked by barricades, that he walked up,” the criticism stated.
Regardless of telling investigators that he “noticed individuals within the crowd inflicting property injury and other people waving flags,” he entered the constructing by an open set of doorways. In line with the criticism, photos later taken from Elizalde’s telephone present that he was within the constructing for round three minutes earlier than leaving.
Elizalde was first approached by investigators from the Naval Prison Investigative Service in December 2021 and was subsequent interviewed in April 2022.
In line with information supplied by the Navy, Elizalde, a petty officer top quality, is an aviation structural mechanic who’s presently stationed at a upkeep division in Rota, Spain.
He enlisted in June 2007 and served aboard the plane carriers USS Eisenhower and USS Harry Truman. His service file additionally exhibits that he earned 4 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals and 5 Good Conduct Medals, in addition to a number of unit awards.
Elizalde’s arrest makes him the fifth active-duty service member to be arrested over the assault on the Capitol.
Months earlier than investigators first approached Elizalde in 2021, the FBI arrested Marine Maj. Christopher Warnagiris on 9 fees. The Marine Corps ultimately determined to separate the officer in December 2021, and he ended his service a yr and a day after he walked into the Capitol.
Extra not too long ago, three enlisted Marines with jobs within the intelligence group had been additionally arrested by federal investigators.
Prosecutors declare in courtroom paperwork that the trio spent slightly below an hour milling concerning the Capitol, together with the Rotunda, the place they put “a pink MAGA hat on one of many statues to take images with it.”
Elizalde joins 12 different service members — lively, reserve and Nationwide Guard — who’ve been arrested for alleged crimes stemming from Jan. 6. Two different males had been booted from fundamental coaching as their investigations unfolded.
In line with the George Washington College’s Mission on Extremism, out of the 968 defendants charged with crimes stemming from Jan. 6, 131, or 13%, have some type of army background
— Konstantin Toropin may be reached at konstantin.toropin@army.com. Observe him on Twitter @ktoropin.
