A Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection after one of his high-school classmates tipped him off to authorities.
Unsealed charging documents show the classmate told the FBI that Martin James Cudo had posted a selfie from the U.S. Capitol during the riot, and agents said he confirmed that was him when shown the photo. He admitted to flying to Washington, D.C., with his mother and stepfather to attend the "Stop the Steal" protest, reported the Star Tribune.
"The charging document is laden with photographs that prosecutors say capture Cudo walking toward the Capitol grounds from the Ellipse near the White House, where [then-president Donald] Trump encouraged tens of thousands of protesters to march to the Capitol and call out House Republicans who he said were poised to join Democrats in certifying the election for Biden," the newspaper reported.
Numerous photos and video evidence show the 43-year-old Cudo, who was wearing a COVID mask designed like an American flag and a blue Trump "45" hat, walking toward the Capitol grounds, and the complaint states that he breached police barricades after parting from his mother and stepfather.
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He eventually left the Capitol with other rioters about 3 p.m. after police ordered them out, but he remained on the grounds for about two hours longer before returning to his hotel, where he came to the realization that he might be in trouble for taking part in the riot, according to the complaint.
Cudo was arrested Monday and charged with illegal entry of the Capitol with the intent to impede or disrupt the U.S. House of Representatives as lawmakers certified Joe Biden's election win over Trump.
