Chris Warnagiris, a United States Marine major accused of taking part in the 6 January Capitol riot, has pleaded not guilty to all nine of the charges against him, according to NBC Washington reporter Scott MacFarlane.
Mr Warnagiris, 40, was the first active-duty service member charged in connection to the Capitol attack. He was arrested in May, accused of pushing his way into the building and forcibly holding a door open to let other rioters in.
“According to court documents and security camera footage, Warnagiris violently entered the Capitol on Jan 6, after pushing through a line of police officers guarding the East Rotunda doors,” the US Attorney for the District of Columbia wrote at the time. “Once inside, Warnagiris positioned himself in the corner of the doorway, using his body to keep the door open and pull others inside.”
The charges include obstruction of law enforcement, assaulting or resisting an officer, entering a restricted building, and violently entering Capitol grounds.
Mr MacFarlane reported the Marine major’s not guilty pleas, adding that he is not currently in custody. He remains on release under certain conditions, with which he has reportedly been complying, and has been given permission to visit his family in Woodbridge, Virginia. His next hearing is in about 60 days.
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More than 500 people have been arrested in connection to the 6 January attack. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the staggering number last week.
“I assure the American people that the Department of Justice will continue to follow the facts in this case and charge what the evidence supports to hold all January 6th perpetrators accountable,” Mr Garland said in a statement.
