A federal judge on Tuesday convicted a western Wyoming man of assaulting law enforcement officers with a flagpole during the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S Capitol.
Douglas Harrington, 69, was found guilty of two felonies — assaulting an officer and civil disorder — as well as five misdemeanors including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and engaging in violence on the Capitol grounds, according to court records and the FBI.
U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg delivered the verdict at the conclusion of a three-day bench trial in Washington, D.C. Harrington, who waived his right to a jury trial, is set to be sentenced Nov. 5.
His conviction comes on the same day that former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term in office, was asked by journalists whether he would pardon rioters who attacked officers during the Jan. 6 attack.
“Oh absolutely, I would,” he said. “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”
“They’ve been convicted,” ABC News reporter Rachel Scott responded.
“They were convicted by a very tough system,” Trump answered.
Flagpole assault
Harrington, who lives in the Star Valley community of Bedford, traveled to Washington for a Jan. 6, 2021 rally by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who was contesting the 2020 presidential election based on unfounded allegations of voter fraud. After listening to Trump speak, a crowd of his supporters forced their way into the Capitol as Congress was working to certify the results of the election.
Video taken from outside the Capitol showed Harrington carrying a flagpole with American and Trump 2020 flags attached to it, according to court documents and an FBI statement. He was wearing a cowboy hat, painter’s respirator mask, goggles and a military-style backpack.
At 3:42 p.m. on that day, Harrington approached a line of officers on the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol grounds, according to an FBI statement and a criminal complaint filed against Harrington. The FBI says he challenged the officers with provocative gestures, then used the bottom of the flagpole to strike in the direction of an officer, who responded by using a “chemical irritant” directed at Harrington.
Officers were attempting to push other rioters away at the time. The FBI says Harrington raised his flagpole to strike the distracted officers. When one intervened and extended a police baton, Harrington swung the flagpole and hit the officer on the left hand, wrist and on the helmet, according to the FBI statement and criminal complaint. He then twice swung the flagpole toward the police line.
Authorities also alleged Harrington was among a group of rioters who used a large, opaque item to block the officers’ view of the advancing crowd. He was further accused of grabbing an officer’s baton and trying to shove an officer by pushing on a riot shield.
When officers began to move rioters away from the Capitol, Harrington initially resisted and was only removed 15 minutes before a curfew went into effect.
Arrest
The FBI later asked for the public’s help in identifying the man who was seen on video and in photos using a flagpole to attack officers. A confidential source came forward to identify the man as Harrington. The FBI found a cell number associated with him, and records showed a phone registered to him in the vicinity of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.
An FBI agent later interviewed a person who knew Harrington and identified him as the man in the video. Authorities obtained a search warrant for an iCloud account tied to his phone and email. It revealed messages that showed his intent to obstruct the election, according to the FBI.
On Dec. 19, 2021, for example, Harrington wrote:
“6 JANUARY 2021 IS THE DAY WE MARCH ON WASHINGTON DC THE WHOLE REASON FOR FREEDOM IS SOMEONES BLOOD PAYS THE PRICE” (SIC)
Two days later, he wrote that he was going to the Jan. 6 rally to “show our support against the STEAL OF OUR VOTES.” The next day, he added “This is my mind made up I will die for our Country if NEED BE BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO TRASH MY COUNTRY ANY LONGER UNDER MY WATCH. THESE COMMIES NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR HIGH CRUMES AND TREASONOUS ATTEMPTED COUP” (SIC)
The messages continued after the riot. Two days after the attack on the Capitol, he wrote to “an intimate partner” and others: “We caused the riot because the government devils dont get it[.]”
Social media that authorities connected to Harrington indicated he was a combat veteran who had served in Vietnam and the Middle East.
Harrington was arrested in August and was released the same month on a personal recognizance bond, which does not require a defendant to post bail.
I guess “mr. patriot” hadn’t realized he had been duped by a CONVICTED felon at the time of his assault on innocent law enforcement officers but somehow I get the feeling that wouldn’t have mattered anyway since birds of a feather flock together.
Note the sweet irony that Harrington the Usurper will be sentence for his January 6 participation on Tuesday , November 5… this year’s election day.
Yes, as a matter of public service we all should remember January 6 on November 5 this time around when we vote. Y’all are going to vote, right ?
Treasonous traitors. Each and every one of these convictions should come with years of jail time.
The gullible and low intelligence “patriots” won’t be missed.
Thank you for the substantiated evidence and clarity.
Remember, a couple other Wyoming “patriots” also went to the insurrection. Two politicians. Keep on supporting these clowns.
one of which will most likely win a house seat….
Wonder how long it’ll be before some Trump-appointed “judge” turns the guy loose…
Not sure this guy is old enough to have served in Vietnam. I was there in 72, the last full year we were there and he would have been 17 then and 16 the year before when he could have enlisted. Just sayin.
Made me wonder also. Cease fire by ’73, exit and Embassy evacuation spring ’75.
I appreciate that our FBI and Justice system continue to track down those who damaged and desecrated a building which belongs to me, and millions of other Americans. I was horrified that my country’s Capitol building, a representation of our nation’s focus on freedom and the rule of law, was treated so disrespectfully.
Now, other taxpayers and I have to pay to repair the damage, along with installation of new breakproof windows, security measures, etc. because of the actions of this person and others. That’s not right. They did the damage, they pay up.
Great! Outstanding! The people who were trying to force their way in through a tunnel were lucky to be alive. In some countries, they would’ve been met with automatic weapons fire and a grenade or two. Storming a building, breaking down doors and punching police is a pretty good example of a riot. When BLM, pro-Hamas groups, antifa or “resisters” do it, it is also a riot. Too bad that for the latter, they are just “peacefully protesting”. Rioting is not peaceful protesting.
WTH is “antifer”? And who and where are they? The only anti-fascists I knew are long gone, like my Dad, who fought Nazis in North Africa and Europe. Every American should be anti-fascist. MAGA is blatantly fascist, authoritatian, anti-democracy.
Good brisk morning to you all but the “heat” is on and on for the Americans of Jan. 6th with brisk Americans revealing “democracy” at work via American First Amendment Rights to do so on both sides of the activities and actions of that day described and labeled an insurrection of a democracy.
It’s wonderful to see all this participation about that particular day and of course with the exercising of you folks at WYOFILE and the IMPORTANCE of your/our right to the FIRST AMENDMENT granted/guaranteed by our awesome CONSTITUTION of these United States of America.
What is odd is how confused these Americans on both sides ALL claim to express their love of and for AMERICA it’s CONSTITUTION and yet must be totally unaware that 3-4 misdemeanors depending on which American State a person/American resides in will gain a FELONY but of course at present it’s all dependent on the degree of the misdemeanor.
Could it be one day for three (3) jaywalking misdemeanors or three parking tickets or maybe three moving violations AMERICANS will be faced with a FELONY in America of “We the people”? Are you/we/I ready to accept that fate or date in the future of this DEMOCRACY/REPUBLIC?
Will at some point will our FIRST AMENDMENT be converted to a method to share propaganda or news of interest to the public/”We the people” because as we all know or should know once we have a felony on/in our “record” we lose our “voting voice/ability” as an American of this Republic/Democracy correct?
Americans I love my American Republic but then I’m always being accused of being “old school” and I graduated high school on the Bicentennial year of the Republic. Semper Fi!
Oh the gullible goofballs.
I’m all for peaceful protests and civil disobedience when necessary (just be prepared to be arrested, spend a night in jail, and pay steep fines) but violent protests, destroying government property, and physically attacking police officers is wrong, dead wrong. This veteran should have known better than to trust a con man like Trump.
You can blame one person for perpetrating the “Big Lie”, voter fraud. It’s sad that many Americans believed him, then and even now and participated in the insurrection at the Capitol. The former President of the U.S.A. even tried to coerce voting officials in Georgia and Arizona to change the election results. He was responsible for sending fake electors to Pennsylvania, Arizona, etc., in an attempt to change the election results (source, The Guardian). How any political party can support such an individual is disgraceful, and they certainly are not acting in the best interest of our nation, constitution and democracy. You’re teaching the youth of our country its acceptable to cheat, also disgraceful! No one is above the law, and no one of his character should ever walk the halls of the Capitol Building of the U.S.A.
We analyzed and worked to counter this journey to radicalization as America fought the forever wars against global terrorism. There was a clear pattern and path from passive observer of world events to armed terrorist. The odd twist here is global jihad focused on luring in impressionable and disaffected male youths. Targets of propaganda were young men with no economic or relationship opportunities, and no political voice. All key elements when propagating an insurgency. The Jan 06 terrorists came from the middle and upper class of America. Their wealth and quality of life among the top 10% in the world. They had (past tense) jobs, family, homes, healthcare, guns, 401Ks, instant access to legit sources of news, and unused library cards. They presented no legitimate grievances and screamed over the top of factual evidence. In the end, WY suffered the violent temper tantrum of a 60-somethig year old spoiled child. Sentencing for these unpatriotic insurrectionists has been far too light, and no doubt this WY embarrassment will get his slap on the wrist for attacking our country. Make GITMO full again, starting with this one.
Well-said, Coy Grimsley. I think what empowers these radicals is that most sane people are silent. We have to be willing to let them know that there are just as many of us who don’t share their crazy ideas. Bullies think silence is permission.
He was in the wrong for sure. No need for that.
Political protest are part of our DNA, but when a protest becomes civil disobedience the time comes to pay the piper.