Man pleads guilty to civil disorder during Capitol Breach
Nov 25, 2024-A Mississippi man pleaded guilty on Nov. 19 to a felony charge of civil disorder as a result of his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Donald Walker, 48, of Kosciusko pleaded guilty to the felony offense before U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly. Walker is to be sentenced on March 10, 2025.
According to court documents, body-worn camera footage from Metropolitan Police Department officers, on Jan. 6, 2021, officers were seen struggling against a mob of rioters near erected barricades on the West Plaza of the Capitol building. Police had been dispatched to this area to assist Capitol Police officers with protecting the U.S. Capitol grounds and building.
As the struggle ensued, Walker approached the police line and bike rack barricades, locked his arm through the bike rack, and pulled the barricade towards himself as officers on the other side attempted to defend the police line and establish control. Seconds later, Walker appeared to be sprayed with a chemical irritant, which caused him to move away from the police line.
At approximately 1:37 p.m., Walker re-approached the police line, grabbed onto a bike rack with his right hand, and pulled on it. Walker then released his hand and grabbed the bike rack again, this time placing his hand over the hand of an officer who was attempting to retain control of the bike rack. Seconds later, an officer deployed chemical spray in Walker’ s direction, causing him to retreat back from the line.
Walker then entered the U.S. Capitol through the Parliamentarian Door at approximately 2:54 p.m. and exited at about 2:57 p.m.
The FBI arrested Walker on March 25 in Mississippi.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Jackson and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
