Talk about going from hero to zero.
Ryan Nichols, a Marine veteran and real estate agent from Longview, Texas, has been arrested as part of the ongoing FBI sweep of the treasonous scum who ransacked the US Capitol on january 6. What makes his story different is what he did back in 2018.
A former Marine who drove 18 hours through the night to Leland to rescue animals got some gifts from Ellen Degeneres.
Ryan Nichols made the trip from Longview, Texas, to Leland to help fellow Marine David Rebollar get people to safety during Hurricane Florence.
In the process, Nichols found six hound dogs locked in cages as floodwaters rose. Nichols said in four days he helped rescue 25 people and 10 animals.
And he was rewarded for his work:
On her daily talk show, Ellen, Degeneres surprised Nichols with a $25,000 donation to the Humane Society in his name.
Degeneres also gave Nichols and his wife, along with Rebollar and his wife, trips to Hawaii with their families. Neither couple was able to have a honeymoon because of Hurricane Harvey last year.
But that was then. This is now:
His buddy who went with him on rescue missions was also arrested.
Ryan Nichols, 30, of Longview, and Alex Kirk Harkrider, 33, of Carthage, were both arrested on Monday. Nichols is being held in the Smith County Jail, and Harkrider is being held in the Gregg County Jail.
According to a Department of Justice criminal complaint that lists the suspects in the assault on the Capitol Building, Nichols’ federal charges include conspiracy and unlawful entry with a dangerous weapon, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; civil disorder, assault on a federal officer, using a deadly or dangerous weapon, and aiding and abetting.
The criminal complaint states that Harkrider’s charges include conspiracy and unlawful entry with a dangerous weapon, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and aiding and abetting.