A person recognized as Eric Gavelek Munchel was photographed holding zip ties within the U.S. Capitol on Jan. sixth. (Picture by way of Win McNamee/Getty Photos)
The person who was seen leaping over a banister within the Senate Gallery and was later dubbed “Zip Tie Man” — as a result of him gripping a handful of the plastic restraints on the time — has been convicted of felonies and misdemeanors for breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. His mom, charged in the identical case, was additionally convicted.
Eric Gavelek Munchel, 32, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Lisa Marie Eisenhart, 59, of Woodstock, Georgia, have been discovered responsible Tuesday in a stipulated trial earlier than Senior U.S. District Choose Royce Lamberth. In a stipulated trial, the defendant and prosecutors comply with a set of info that kind the idea of the choose’s final determination; on this case, Lamberth discovered that the info supported convictions for each mom and son of conspiracy to commit obstruction and obstruction of an official continuing, each felonies that carry a most 20 years behind bars. They have been additionally convicted of trespassing and disorderly conduct misdemeanors.
Munchel was moreover convicted of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted constructing or grounds with a lethal or harmful weapon, a felony with a possible 10-year jail sentence, and unauthorized possession of a lethal or harmful weapon on Capitol grounds, a five-year felony.
Munchel and Eisenhart had traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend then-President Donald Trump’s so-called “Cease the Steal” rally, the place Trump repeated false claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election and urged his supporters to march to the Capitol as Congress was set to certify Joe Biden’s win. The mother-and-son duo did simply that.
“As they approached the Capitol constructing, they noticed different rioters combating with police and inspired them to take action,” the Justice Division mentioned in a press launch. “They skilled police sporting physique armor and utilizing chemical irritants and gasoline to repel rioters like themselves, however they weren’t deterred. As an alternative, despite the fact that they have been conscious their actions have been illegal, they pushed ahead, previous police strains, and entered the Capitol constructing.”
In accordance with the agreed-upon set of info, each Eisenhart and Munchel have been sporting tactical vests. Munchel was moreover outfitted with a Taser holstered at his aspect and “his mobile phone mounted on his chest, with the digital camera dealing with outwards.” That digital camera recorded some 50 minutes of the pair’s method and entry into the Capitol. Throughout this time, Munchel and Eisenhart inspired their fellow rioters to overwhelm police and “pushed their means systematically via the group surrounding the Capitol.”
At one level, Munchel fist-bumped a member of the right-wing antigovernment Oath Keepers militia group. Members of the Oath Keepers have been convicted of seditious conspiracy, essentially the most severe cost thus far within the federal authorities’s expansive prosecution of the Capitol assault.
Mom and son have been additionally heard on the recording exchanging their observations of what was occurring round them.
“This s— is on the information, that man was saying,” Eisenhart says.
“Oh yeah … they will use this in opposition to us as arduous as they will,” Munchel replied.
“I don’t care,” a defiant Eisenhart mentioned. “That’s advantageous. They will.”
“We ain’t enjoying f—— good no g—— extra,” mentioned an equally defiant Munchel.
“That’s proper,” Eisenhart agreed.
“We’re f—— able to f— s— up,” Munchel can also be heard saying in response to an unidentified man who informed the pair that they appear to be they’re “able to go.”
They ultimately entered the constructing via the Higher West Terrace door and made their option to the Senate Gallery.
On the best way, Munchel apparently noticed in an inside closet the plastic handcuffs to which he would ultimately be linked.
“Upon seeing the zip ties, Munchel shouted ‘zip ties! I have to get me a few of them motherf—–,”” the stipulated assertion of info says. “Munchel took a number of zip ties and Eisenhart took one. A number of different people took zip ties.”
After grabbing among the zip ties, each Munchel and Eisenhart entered the Senate Gallery. Munchel was nonetheless carrying his holstered Taser.
They stayed contained in the Senate Gallery for a number of moments earlier than ultimately making their means out.
“Sorry, guys, nonetheless love you,” Munchel mentioned to close by law enforcement officials, in line with the assertion of info.
After leaving the Capitol, the pair weren’t shy about sharing their ideas on what they apparently felt was a victory.
Later, each Munchel and Eisenhart “gave statements to a reporter wherein they acknowledged that their actions have been supposed to intimidate Congress,” the submitting says.
Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, set a sentencing date of Sept. 8.
Learn the joint assertion of info right here.
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