Capitol rioter pleads guilty to spraying wasp killer at police on January 6

A Long Island man pleaded guilty Thursday to spraying wasp killer at police and assaulting journalists during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

On that fateful day, a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. he riot broke out following Trump’s repeated false claims that Biden’s election victory was stolen by widespread voter fraud.

Peter Moloney of Bayport, New York, was there that day and was among more than 1,500 people charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Of those charged, more than 950 pleaded guilty and more than 200 were found guilty following trial.

On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to a charge of felonious assault for spraying wasp killer on four Metropolitan Police officers. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of eight years.

It appears Moloney came to the Capitol “prepared for violence,” according to an FBI agent’s affidavit, which also says Moloney had goggles, a helmet and a can of insecticide. The agent wrote in the affidavit that the video shows Moloney spraying the insecticide at police.

Moloney also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a journalist. According to a court filing accompanying his plea agreement, Moloney grabbed the reporter’s camera and pulled it, causing the reporter to trip down the stairs and damage his camera. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of one year.

He also admitted to assaulting an Associated Press photographer who was at the Capitol that day. Like the other reporter, Moloney grabbed the photographer’s camera and pulled it, causing the photographer to stagger downstairs, according to the FBI agent’s affidavit. Moloney was then seen “punching and shoving” the photographer before other rioters pushed him over a wall, according to the officer.

Moloney’s attorney, Edward Heilig, said his client takes “full responsibility” for his actions on Jan. 6 and “deeply regrets his actions that day.”

He will be sentenced on February 11.

Moloney co-owned Moloney Family Funeral Homes with his brother, Dan Moloney. His brother said in a statement after Moloney’s June 2023 arrest that the “alleged actions taken by an individual on their own time in no way reflect the core values” of his company, “which is dedicated to winning and maintain people’s trust.” all members of the community of all races, religions and nationalities. »

Heilig said his client has since left the company.

Trump, the current Republican presidential nominee, also faces four counts in his federal election subversion case in Washington, D.C., related to his alleged actions during the Capitol riot: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.