Man seen smoking cigar during Capitol siege arrested: FBI
A man seen smoking a cigar during the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week has been arrested, according to the FBI.
Dominic Pezzola was taken into custody Friday morning and has been charged with smashing a window at the Capitol, according to an FBI affidavit.
After Pezzola, 43, turned himself in, he was ordered held pending a bond hearing at a later date in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors have asked that he be detained based on "risk of flight and risk of danger."
Pezzola was seen "smoking a cigar inside the Capitol building" in video reviewed by the FBI.
"In the video," court records show, "the individual states words to the effect of, 'Victory smoke in the Capitol, boys. This is f------- awesome."
The FBI confirmed Pezzola's identify with the help of a witness, who said that he or she knew Pezzola as "Spaz" and that he had bragged about breaking windows at the Capitol with a police shield before entering.
According to court records, Pezzola allegedly had ideas of killing Vice President Mike Pence if presented the opportunity.
Pezzola's online profile says he's a veteran of the Marines.
A release from the U.S. Attorney's Office issued late Friday says, Pezzola "was charged by criminal complaint with one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c)(2); one count of destruction of government property, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1361; and one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section1752(a)."
The affidavit alleges that he "unlawfully gained entry" to the Capitol by breaking a window with a U.S. Capitol Police shield, while instigated by others.
Among other things, the release says, "The affidavit also alleges that Pezzola and others stated that they would have killed anyone they got their hands on, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Michael Pence. The affidavit alleges that, in the days after the event, members of the group said that the group would return to Washington, D.C., and kill every single 'm-fer' they could."
