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Capitol Riot Suspect Waives Right To Hearing Before Judge Mazzone

WHEELING — A Richmond man facing charges for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Mazzone.

Steven C. Billingsley, 45, remains free, pending an appearance before a federal judge in Washington.

Billingsley has been charged with disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He is one of more than 570 who have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol.

A criminal complaint filed by the FBI alleges Billingsley used Facebook to livestream video of himself making his way from Constitution Avenue to the East Front Plaza of the Capitol, removing barricades and ignoring the orders of police at the scene as he did.

The complaint states Billingsley posted a screenshot of himself that matched the photo on his driver’s license.

Billingsley allegedly told a guard, “We’re going through. We can do it the nice way or the hard way … You guys turned on us.”

Billingsley also is said to have told others at the scene, “Who cares about them cops? We overpower them.”

The FBI said one of Billingsley’s videos appears to show he was within 20 feet of the Rotunda doors but didn’t enter.

As other officers arrived to drive back the rioters, Billingsley is said to comment, “I guess we gotta retreat this time.”

The FBI said, after that, he stated he would hang Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from a tree.

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