A retired New York police officer is facing charges for participating in the Capitol riot last month, where he allegedly attacked a Capitol officer.
Thomas Webster appeared in court Tuesday, where federal prosecutors alleged that he wore a bulletproof vest and was prepared for “armed conflict” during the Jan. 6 attack on the federal building. Prosecutors alleged that Webster attacked a Capitol police officer using a flag pole that was flying a Marine Corps flag and also pulled down the officer’s mask, causing him to choke.
Webster allegedly called the officer a “commie motherf—–” and went after him like a “junkyard dog,” prosecutors argued in court Tuesday.
James Monroe, Webster’s attorney, did not deny that his client was seen in video evidence found by investigators. Webster went to the Capitol to protest and went at the urging of former President Donald Trump, Monroe argued.
Monroe asked the judge to release Webster on bond, citing his family ties and lack of criminal history. Webster was honorably discharged from the Marines and spent 20 years with the New York Police Department, his attorney argued.
During his time as a police officer, Webster did security for City Hall and the New York City mayor’s official residence Gracie mansion, according to law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the investigation. He retired from the force 2011, the NYPD confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday.
Webster surrendered himself to the FBI’s Hudson Valley office on Monday, according to NBC New York. He also turned over his firearms, pistol permit and passport to authorities.
Webster is among more than 200 people who have been charged in the Capitol riot, some of whom have been identified as military veterans.
Court filings with the exact charges against Webster were not immediately available Tuesday. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia did not immediately respond to a request for more information from NBC News.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
