WASHINGTON — Two Pennsylvania brothers pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to joining the mob assault on police during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Andrew and Matthew Valentin appeared before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton to plead guilty to two counts each of assaulting police. Andrew’s plea included one count of assaulting police with a dangerous weapon for striking an officer with a thrown folding chair. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop multiple other felony counts as well as not to seek immediate imprisonment at sentencing.
According to charging documents, Matthew Valentin was first identified in an open source video from the riot in which he called himself “Matthew from MAGAsylvania.” In the same video, another individual now identified as Andrew Valentin described himself as Matthew’s brother.
Investigators said on Jan. 6 the Valentins gathered near the Washington Monument with other supporters of former President Donald Trump and then marched to the U.S. Capitol. One there, the brothers climbed the media tower on the west side of the Capitol before making their way to the front of the line between protesters and police. Just before 2:30 p.m. – a little more than 15 minutes after the first breach of the building – investigators said the brothers can be seen rushing the police line and pushing a metal bike rack barricade into officers.
The Valentins remained on the west side of the Capitol for hours. During that time, according to charging documents, Matthew sprayed a canister of chemical irritant toward police and also attempted to disarm an officer of their baton. At around 5:12 p.m., Andrew threw a folding chair at a line of police and struck the shield of a Montgomery County Police Officer who was assistant U.S. Capitol Police.
According to Walton, under the terms of their plea agreements Matthew will face an estimated sentencing guideline of 27-33 months in prison and Andrew, who pleaded guilty to the more serious count of assaulting police with a dangerous weapon, will face a guideline range of 51-63 months.
In the 44 months since the Capitol riot, more than 1,500 individuals have now been charged, including more than 550 charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding police. More than 900 people have now pleaded guilty in connection to Jan. 6.