Greer, South Carolina man pleads guilty to civil disorder in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

October 12, 2024 – WASHINGTON – A South Carolina man pleaded guilty on October 10, 2024 to a felony charge stemming from his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the United States Congress convened to verify and count electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

William Robert Norwood III, 41, of Greer, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols. Judge Nichols will sentence Norwood on February 21, 2025.

According to court documents, Norwood drove from South Carolina to Washington, D.C. to attend then-President Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, near the Ellipse. After the rally, Norwood marched to the U.S. Capitol building and entered its restricted area. Norwood climbed the partially covered stairs on the northwest side of the Capitol and eventually entered the building through the northwest door of the Senate wing around 2:23 p.m.

Once inside, Norwood briefly entered an office across the street from the former Supreme Court chambers. Norwood recorded a video of himself entering that office. In this video, Norwood can be heard saying, “Well, we’re in this b-now.” And now ? This is our house,” upon entering the office, and “Where are you Nancy?” when leaving the office.

After leaving the office, Norwood walked through the crypt and finally made his way to the Rotunda. There, Norwood was part of a crowd of rioters heading toward Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. As Norwood walked through the President’s wing, he picked up a mountain of paper with the words “United States Congress” and the congressional seal printed on it, which another rioter had thrown at him from a desk outside the offices from Speaker Pelosi.

Norwood then walked to the balcony outside the Speaker’s Chamber and recorded two videos of the crowd gathered outside on the west side of the Capitol building. In one of the videos, Norwood can be heard shouting, “This is our fucking house.” » In the second, Norwood can be heard shouting: “House (inaudible)! Go home, policeman! Goodbye, you bastard. »

After leaving the balcony, Norwood entered one of Speaker Pelosi’s offices for approximately 25 seconds. He then returned to the President’s wing.

After leaving the President’s Wing, Norwood returned through the Rotunda and to the doors of the East Rotunda, which were guarded from the inside by at least three U.S. Capitol Police officers. Norwood stood in front of the line of rioters who had gathered there and began knocking on doors in an attempt to open them.

Norwood yelled at the officers to open the doors, but the officers repeatedly told Norwood and the others that the doors would not be opened. Norwood knew the officers were trying to keep the doors closed, but he continued to push the doors with his arms. Around 2:38 p.m., Norwood and the rioters behind him finally pushed open the doors, allowing hundreds of rioters to enter the Capitol building from the outside.

After participating in breaking down the doors, Norwood continued to wander around the Capitol building and recorded a minute-long video inside the rotunda showing a line of Metropolitan Police officers. During the video, Norwood can be heard saying, “Oh, these a…, they’re trying to kick us out.” . . . Should we take back our house? Our house. You’re all a bunch of p—s. It’s about to fall, brother. Norwood then turns the camera on himself and says, “She’s about to come down.” Because I’m going to go with (unintelligible) weapons or their asps and attack these m—f—s later. No, no, no.

Norwood finally left the Capitol through the East Rotunda door at approximately 2:59 p.m. After leaving the building, Norwood took a U.S. Capitol Police helmet and plate carrier from a trash can outside the building.

The FBI arrested Norwood on February 25, 2021 in South Carolina.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina provided valuable assistance.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Columbia and Washington field offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police.

In the 45 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,532 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 people accused of assaulting or obstructing forces order, a crime. The investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Related documents:

Norwood – Indictment (PDF, 633 KB)

Norwood – Statement of Facts (PDF, 1 MB)

Norwood – Complaint (PDF, 232 KB)

Source and photos: DOJ press release