The first person to breach the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, is being accused by federal prosecutors of regurgitating false claims and conspiracy theories about Donald Trump and other politicians in the wake of the former President's 2020 election loss.
Michael Sparks has been charged with felony obstruction of an official proceeding and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder among other charges. He was the first rioter to enter the building by jumping through a broken window that was smashed in by an alleged Proud Boy, according to prosecutors who say he later joined the mob that chased a Capitol Police officer up the stairs towards the floor of the Senate.
Sparks has pleaded not guilty.
FBI Special Agent Steven Nestoryak testified in Sparks' trial about social media posts Sparks made in which he said Trump was the rightful winner of the 2020 election.
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“Yes we want a civil war to be clear," Sparks wrote on Jan. 1, 2021.
"Trump will win by a landslide. It won’t even be close,” Sparks wrote as election results were still being gathered.
"Trump will win when all the dust settles," Sparks wrote. "Calm down everyone, Trump is going to be your president!"
But when the election was called for Biden. Sparks' rhetoric became more inflammatory and violent in nature.
"Wouldn't it be something if 70 million came to arms," Sparks wrote in a post.
"We the people are with you 70 million strong. Let us know if we need [to] bear arms," he wrote in another.
Other evidence provided by prosecutors showed Sparks making numerous social media posts questioning the election results and boosting conspiracy theorists.
Read more at NBC News.
