Capitol rioter seen smoking in Rotunda arrested

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The FBI said Tuesday that it had arrested a man allegedly seen smoking in the Capitol Rotunda during the deadly Jan. 6 riot.

According to a complaint from the FBI, a witness submitted videos of Greg Rubenacker, a New York man, apparently smoking in the Rotunda during the Capitol breach. Officials said the videos were posted to Snapchat by Rubenacker.

In one clip, Rubenacker allegedly said, “Holy shit! This is history! We took the Capitol!” In another segment, he allegedly said, “Smoke out the Capitol, baby.” According to the complaint, Rubenacker appeared to be smoking a marijuana cigarette and using a vaping device.

A Snapchat story appearing to be from Rubenacker’s account showed protesters outside the Capitol with the caption “America is pissed.”

“The witness stated [they] had known Rubenacker for multiple years and had attended school with Rubenacker,” the FBI complaint read. “Your affiant also searched the New York Department of Motor Vehicles and discovered a driver’s license photograph for a Greg Rubenacker. When shown the driver’s license photograph, the witness stated that the photograph depicted the same Greg Rubenacker [they] knew and had observed in the Snapchat story.”

Rubenacker appeared in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, N.Y., on Tuesday via videoconference, according to CNBC. He faces multiple charges related to disorderly conduct inside the Capitol.

“It’s really frustrating,” Rubenacker reportedly said. “Tired of the corruption in the government.”

According to CNBC, his lawyer responded, “Now’s not the time to talk about the case.”

Rubenacker’s case has been filed in federal court in D.C., the outlet noted, as have all cases against people charged in connection to the violent riot.

The riot is at the center of the Senate impeachment trial against former President Trump that began Tuesday. Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, with the House accusing him of inciting insurrection.

Tags Capitol breach CNBC Donald Trump New York United States Capitol

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