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after: Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press
Published on: / Update:
Federal prosecutors said Thursday that on January 6, an active-duty Marine Corps officer was seen in a camera scrub with police and helped other members of the pro-Trump mob to force into the Capitol.
The Department of Justice said that Major Christopher Wernagiris, 40-year-old Major of Woodbridge, Virginia, was the first active-duty soldier to be prosecuted for the uprising. Prosecutors said Warnagiris, who had been stationed at the Quantico Marine Corps base since last summer, was arrested in Virginia on Thursday.
The charges he faces include beating, resisting or obstructing certain military officers, obstructing law enforcement and obstructing justice during civil strife.
Varna Giris is a field artillery officer. He joined the Marine Corps in 2002 and completed patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan. After a brief appearance by a federal judge in Virginia, he was ordered to be released. It is unclear whether a lawyer will comment on his behalf on Thursday.
According to court documents, Wana Giris, wearing a black jacket, army green backpack, black and tan gloves, crossed the guards standing outside the Capitol and forcibly broke into the building. The authorities said that he then seemed to use his body to keep the door partially open and help draw others into the room.
Court documents show that a U.S. Congressman was moving between Warnagiris and the crowd outside, trying to close the door, and Warnagiris had been trying to keep it open. Authorities said the official told the FBI that he had tried to push Warnagiris away, and the man pushed him back.
Court documents show that a former colleague recognized Warnagiris in the photo and reported him to the FBI in March. The next day, FBI agents went to his military command and showed a photo to the person working with him. He identified the person as Warnagiris in the photo.
The Marine Corps said in a statement that there is “no racial hatred or extremism” in its ranks.
It said: “Regardless of the background, those who cannot cherish the contributions of others will destroy our culture, our ability to fight, and have no place in our ranks.”
So far, more than 400 people have been besieged. According to the Ministry of Justice, there are four members of the National Guard or reserve soldiers, and about 40 veterans.
The charges against the rioters ranged from contemptuous crimes (such as misconduct in a restricted building) to serious conspiracy cases against members and associates of extremist groups “Pride Boys” and “Oathtaking”.
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Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report in Washington.
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