Jefferson County Man Charged in Capitol Riot
RICHMOND -- A Richmond man has been arrested for his alleged part in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of thousands attempting to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as president by Congress.
Steven C. Billingsley, 45, faces charges of 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 FBI.
He is one of more than 500 who have been arrested in connection with the attack.
According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the FBI used video footage Billingsley allegedly livestreamed of himself during the riot to prosecute its case against him.
An FBI official said video posted on Billingsley's Facebook account "appeared to show him breach a barricade on the Capitol grounds and engage in a variety of conduct there."
The complaint states Billingsley posted a screenshot of himself that matched his driver's license.
FBI officials said Billingsley recorded and commented on activity around him as he walked from Constitution Avenue to the East Front Plaza of the Capitol.
In one video, he's said to have observed someone climbing scaffolding on the Capitol grounds and shouted, "Yeah, baby -- storm the Capitol! That's where the thieves are!"
FBI officials said as he stepped over metal barricades lying on the ground, Billingsley is heard saying, "This is where they had it closed off. We're going past it."
They said later he is heard saying, "We're going as far as we can get," and later, to police officers standing 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."
He's also is said to have told the police, "We're gonna walk right in there. Go get your little bicycles."
FBI officials said in another video, a loud bang is heard in the distance, followed by Billingsley yelling, "Yee haw."
After an officer is heard telling Billingsley pepper spray was being used to deter rioters, Billingsley is said to have replied, "That doesn't scare us. We're coming. It doesn't matter what you got. We're gonna get it."
FBI officials said another of Billingsley's videos reveals he and at least one other individual removed a metal barricade from the East Front Plaza adjacent to the Capitol's Senate Wing.
They said as police motioned for him and others to leave, Billingsley told one, "We love you, man. This is war," and to others, "We get numbers. You're in trouble."
From there Billingsley allegedly made his way to the plaza in front of the Capitol's Rotunda doors, where he reportedly used profanity to state the mob's intention of tearing it down.
The FBI said another 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."
FBI officials said in one video, someone states, upon seeing members of Congress looking out windows, their intention isn't to harm them.
But Billingsley is said to have replied, "No, we do want to hurt (Speaker of the House Nancy) Pelosi. I do. Yeah, I would hang her from that big -- you see that tree over there? We'd put a rope and hang her. We'd hang her and Schumer over there. . ."
Billingsley is slated to appear for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Mazzone on Tuesday morning.