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Man who ‘invited Christ back into our Capitol’ during pro-Trump riot has been arrested
April 14, 2021
Michael Lee Roche was arrested Tuesday for storming the U.S. Capitol, like hundreds of others, on January 6. But unlike most, Roche was crystal clear about who sent him to the riot.
He says he was there specifically for Jesus.
Roche, 26, of Murfreesboro Tenn., posted video on Facebook, according to the FBI complaint. Here's how it read in part:
"My name is Michael Roche. We're here in Washington D.C. We did get a chance to storm the Capitol. And we made it into the chamber…We managed to convince the cops to let us through. They listened to reason. And when we got into the chamber, we all started praying and shouting in the name of Jesus Christ and inviting Christ back into our state capitol."
Roche, who was also photographed at the Trump rally before the riot, had a celebrity photo op with Jacob Chansley, aka the QAnon Shaman. Here's how he captioned the photo:
"Took a pic of this wonderful man from AZ before the media tried to smear him as Antifa. My brother was shoulder to shoulder praying in Jesus name in the main capital chamber holding up the Bible. I want too see those photos. Do NOT believe what you hear." (Unedited)
The FBI complaint cites a video from the New Yorker's YouTube channel showing Roche in the Senate chamber behind the desk of Vice President Mike Pence "with at least three other rioters, including Chansley, who begin to shout and pray."
Here are the charges against, Roche, with maximum penalties, as reported by the Nashville Tennessean:
Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, for which the maximum term in prison is one year, the maximum fine is $250,000;
- Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, maximum prison term of one year, maximum fine of $250,000;
- Obstruction of justice or Congress, maximum prison term of one year, maximum fine of $250,000;
- Entering and remaining on the floor of Congress, maximum prison term of six months, maximum fine of $555,000;
- Disruption of official business, maximum prison term of six months, maximum fine of $5,000;
- Disorderly conduct in a capitol building, maximum prison term of six months, maximum fine of $5,000;
- Parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building, maximum prison term of six months, maximum fine of $5,000.
You read the FBI complaint here.
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Former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter will be charged with manslaughter after she fatally shot Daunte Wright.
Local news station KSTP reports that the Washington County Attorney's Office has decided to charge Potter with manslaughter after she claimed that she accidentally shot Wright with her service weapon after mistaking it for a taser.
KSTP's sources also claim that Washington County Attorney Pete Orput has met with Wright's family and has informed them of his decision to charge the former Brooklyn Center officer, who resigned from the force this week after working there for 26 years.
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Judge scolds MAGA rioter after authorities find he kept a machete against court orders
April 14, 2021
MAGA rioter Jeremy Vorous got a scolding from a judge this week after he defied a court order against possessing any weapons in the time leading up to his trial.
The Meadville Tribune reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Lanzillo of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania angrily rebuked Vorous this week after receiving a report from Pretrial Services claiming that he had been uncooperative with agents and that he continued to possess a machete despite being told that he could not have any weapons in his home as a condition of his pre-trial release.
Vorous's court-appointed attorney claimed that the possession of the machete was a "misunderstanding" and that he only used the large blade to clear out weeds near his house.
However, Lanzillo made it crystal clear that possessing a machete was off limits for the accused MAGA rioter.
"Firearms and a machete, it doesn't take a whole lot of common sense to understand that is what is not permitted under the current conditions of release," Lanzillo said. "Do you understand the points I'm making?"
"Yeah, I understand them," Vorous replied. "We've already complied. The only thing I have to do is get rid of the machete."
Vorous faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds; and obstruction of an official government proceeding.
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