MINNEAPOLIS — The FBI's Minneapolis office confirms a Minnesota man has been taken into custody in connection with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
A federal criminal complaint charges Jordan Kenneth Stotts, 31, of Moorhead, with Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority, as well as Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds.
According to the complaint, a former classmate called the FBI two days after the insurrection, reporting social media statements and photos allegedly posted by Stotts showing his alleged involvement in the Capitol building breach.
In one of the posts, Stotts allegedly wrote "It all started by scaling a wall as we broke into the U.S. [Capitol] to strike fear into the sold out Congress. We were tear gassed and 2 people were shot. We were peaceful but the police were not. Police were aggressive and on the wrong side! They got us out but it's far from over! 1776!"
The complaint says Stotts voluntarily met with an FBI agent in mid-January and admitted that he drove alone to Washington earlier that month to attend a rally for President Trump. He stated in the interview that he wanted "to make his voice heard and be a part of it," the complaint stated.
According to the complaint, Stotts left the Trump rally on the afternoon of Jan. 6 and followed other rally attendees to the U.S. Capitol, where he entered and spent about an hour inside the Capitol rotunda. The complaint says Stotts admitted to recording a video inside the rotunda, which he posted to his Facebook account. He also admitted to taking a photo outside on the steps of the capitol and posting it to his page with the statement, "Patriots! I got kicked out but I'll be back!"
The complaint states that investigators were able to identify Stotts in security camera footage inside the U.S. Capitol building during the breach.
According to the Justice Department's published list of charges in the insurrection case, this is the first known arrest of a Minnesota resident in connection with the Jan. 6 breach.
