WUSA9
A former Republican candidate for the New York State Assembly bragged on social media that he was one of the “key players” in pushing past police lines during the Capitol riot on January 6, according to charging documents unsealed in federal court this week.
Arrest warrants for Gregory Purdy, his brother Matthew Purdy and a third defendant, Robert Turner, were authorized by a federal judge earlier this month. In addition to the four misdemeanor counts they all share, Gregory Purdy and Turner are additionally charged with civil disorder, obstruction and assaulting, resisting or impeding police.
According to court documents, Purdy and other members of his family, including his brother and father – who has not been charged in the Capitol riot case – traveled to Washington, D.C., on a chartered bus on January 6. Once there, investigators say Purdy helped lead the charge against police attempting to keep rioters from entering the U.S. Capitol Building, where Congress had convened a joint session to certify Electoral College votes.
His buddy and co-defendant Robert Turner was more recently tagged AFO#376 by the Feds...
Raw Story
The court documents state that Purdy travelled with members of his family to Washington D.C. for the January 6th "Stop the Steal" rally. Prosecutors allege that Purdy then led the charge against Capitol police officers trying to stop demonstrators from breaching the Capitol building.
According to the affidavit, Purdy said that he believed it was his job to "uphold the Constitution and do a f****** rebellion." He also boasted about the progress he was making against police officers, writing on social media, "This was after the last videos after we successfully got through their first force!!! Look at the f****** blood on the ground."
Purdy is far from the only politician to have participated in the attack. Former West Virginia state Rep. Derrick Evans resigned shortly after being elected when he was arrested for his involvement. Many others, including members of Congress like Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Mo Brooks (R-AL), reportedly helped Trump plan the "Stop the Steal" rally which fed people into the riot.
The Highlands Current
Purdy Jr. has been on an FBI wanted list since soon after the riot, labeled Suspect No. 66 in what has grown to include hundreds of suspects that the agency is attempting to identify. Amateur “sedition hunters” online are careful about naming suspects until they are charged because of the risk of misidentification; Purdy was given the nickname #babyfaceinsider and tracked in videos taken at the Capitol by his distinctive red, white and blue winter coat. Turner, No. 376 on the FBI wanted list, was tagged as #DeepBlueSquader, a reference to his blue “Trump” cap.
(snip)
According to the FBI, Purdy Jr. wrote: “Our country is in major trouble! Our government doesn’t listen to its own laws. Today was about taking our democracy back. We have undisputed proof of major voter fraud … yes, undisputable! And we have been denied the proper court proceeding and special counsel. When they don’t follow the rule of the land then we have to send them a message!”
(snip)
According to the FBI, Purdy Jr. later recounted on Instagram: “Today my group and I were key players in conducting peaceful pushes. The game plan was to talk [to] the officers and tell the[m] to stop following orders and uphold the Constitution… When they didn’t listen, we pushed through (without hitting them, of course) we did these peaceful pushes all the way into the capital building. Later in the day (after these videos were shot during the beginning of the pushes) was when I lead another peaceful push except I went to[o] far ahead of my group and then I got swarmed by 10 cops and got my ass kicked!”
The FBI continues to seek the public’s assistance in identifying individuals who participated in unlawful conduct during the Capitol Insurrection. New images are added frequently...
If you have information about GOP Candidates who participated in unlawful actions at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or leave a tip online. You may also submit relevant photos and videos to the FBI here.
If you just can’t get enough information about the terrorists who tried to usurp our democracy, then these links are for you...
Department of Justice Capitol Breach Cases
FBI US Capitol Violence Most Wanted
Insider Searchable Table
George Washington University Spreadsheet — Updated Daily
NPR — Updated Database
seditiontracker.com
ProPublica Capitol Riot videos lifted from Parler
KUMU — Capitol Riot Insurrectionist Networks
Just Security — January 6th Clearinghouse
The Trace — Capitol Riot Gun Arrests