NEW YORK — A retired New York City firefighter and a state court employee were swept up Tuesday in the federal investigation of the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Former firefighter Thomas Fee surrendered to face charges in Washington of disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building without permission during the Jan. 6 riot, authorities said.
Brendan Hunt, an analyst for the New York court system who was not in Washington during the siege, was charged with making online threats calling for the murder of lawmakers, including high-profile Democrats Nancy Pelosi, Charles Schumer and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
ADIC Sweeney's statement following Thomas Fee's arrest for his role in the riot and assault on the Capitol building:
— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) January 19, 2021
"Thomas Fee is alleged to have illegally made his way into our Nation's house. Today, we invited him into ours."
Full statement below pic.twitter.com/yEbLSNq4lz
The men were among the latest suspects tracked down in New York in a national dragnet following the mob rampage at the Capitol.
The evidence against Fee includes selfies he sent from the Capitol rotunda during the mayhem, prosecutors said. The Long Island man described himself in the communications as part of the “tip of the spear,” they added.
He was released on $100,000 bond and ordered to avoid political gatherings and surrender his firearms. A message was left with his attorney.
Starting off today's #CapitolRiot arrest stories w/ Thomas Fee, of Freeport, NY, who allegedly sent a selfie of himself at the Capitol Rotunda to his girlfriend's brother – a special agent with the State Department. https://t.co/8lqGRjFwbO
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) January 19, 2021
Hunt was ordered held without bail after his arrest on charges he posted inflammatory material on social media in the aftermath that included a video, titled “Kill Your Senators,” that advocated a “slaughter” of members of Congress.
According to court papers, Hunt had previously written in December: “We want to hold a public execution of pelosi aoc schumer etc. … Start up the firing squads, mow down these commies, and lets take america back!”
A judge rejected arguments by his attorney, Leticia Olivera, that prosecutors were treating her client more harshly than other suspects who were actually at the Capitol but still given bail.
Retired FDNY firefighter Thomas Fee (in court for Capitol riot)
— Alice Gainer (@GainerTV) January 19, 2021
Bail package:
Must avoid contact with co-defendants
cannot attend political gatherings
avoid all State Capitols
surrender firearms
restrict travel -court purposes only
undergo mental health testing
The arrests follow that on Monday of Nicolas Moncada, a Staten Island resident also accused of participating in the breach of the U.S. Capitol and bragging about it on social media.
A judge released Moncada on Tuesday on a $100,000 bond and barred him from engaging in political protests. His lawyer, Mario Gallucci, described him as a “spectator” to the events who denies any involvement in “the effort to overthrow the government.”
