WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, a man from Texas received a sentence for felony obstruction of an official proceeding in relation to the breach of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, the Department of Justice reports.
Joshua Johnson, aged 32, from Sherman, Texas, previously residing in Spokane, Washington, has been given a 24-month prison sentence for obstructing an official proceeding. On March 21, 2023, Johnson entered a guilty plea in the District of Columbia. Alongside the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper has also imposed 24 months of supervised release, a restitution of $2,000 to the Architect of the Capitol, and a $100 fine.
According to the Department of Justice, it is stated that on January 6, 2021, Johnson, along with other protesters, arrived at the east side of the U.S. Capitol building. As he approached, police and rioters were using a substance, possibly mace, to spray each other, according to the defendant's perception. The individual arrived at the Capitol around 2:40 p.m. by entering through the Rotunda doors. From there, he ascended a flight of stairs and navigated through the hallways of the Capitol. Johnson checked the door handles of locked doors along his path as he proceeded towards the Senate gallery.
According to the Department of Justice, Johnson wore and then took off a gas mask around 2:43 p.m. as he proceeded towards the Senate floor. He arrived at the Senate floor at approximately 2:49 p.m. As he neared the Senate chamber, Johnson aimed to express his views to members of the United States Congress.
Click here for the latest news updates and to join in the conversation.He was surprised to find that the chamber had already been evacuated. Johnson also hoped to have an impact on Vice President Pence's decision-making process, urging him to make what Johnson considered to be the correct choice. He expressed a desire to "stop the steal," which the Department of Justice says he referred to preventing the certification of the Electoral College vote.
This should not be mistaken for the Stop The Steal movement, which holds the belief that President Biden won the 2020 election fraudulently through significant changes in the electoral process, alleged collusion by corporations, and perceived censorship of Conservatives on social media.
While in the Senate chamber, Johnson examined documents on a Senator's desk and captured video footage of himself and others in the chamber using his cell phone. At approximately 3:02 p.m., Johnson departed from the chamber and exited the building through the north doors around 3:07 p.m. He raised his hands in the air while the crowd of individuals outside the building expressed their support.
On March 23, 2022, Johnson was arrested in Plano, Texas.
The case was handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
The case was investigated by the FBI Seattle Field Office-Spokane Resident Agency and the FBI Washington Field Office, according to available information. Assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
Since January 6, 2021, over 1,069 individuals have been arrested across almost all 50 states for their involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Among those arrested, more than 350 individuals have been charged with assaulting or obstructing law enforcement. The investigation is still in progress.
For those who have information, there is a helpline available at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or an online platform at tips.fbi.gov
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