The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced on Thursday that Steven Patrick Cook, 24, of Bethesda, pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the January 6, 2020 breach of the U.S. Capital. Cook was arrested and charged in September, 2023.
Per the news release: His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Steven Patrick Cook, 24, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, both felonies. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden will sentence Cook on July 19, 2024.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Cook, along with other rioters, broke through the police line on the west side of the U.S. Capitol building, within the restricted area, at approximately 2:28 p.m. Cook then proceeded to assault at least one U.S. Capitol Police Officer and a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer.
Court records say that Cook pushed between and against police officers to further break the line and repeatedly grabbed at police officers’ batons and swung his closed fist at their heads. Police later retreated toward the U.S. Capitol building and began protecting the Lower West Terrace Tunnel entrance. The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. Rioters at the Tunnel battled police officers for hours as they attempted to storm the Capitol building.
At 3:02 p.m., Cook took a gas mask from a nearby rioter, put the gas mask on his head, and pushed his way to the front of the mob of rioters inside the Tunnel. Court documents say that Cook then bull-rushed his way, head-first, toward the police in an attempt to break the police line. During his attack of the officers, Cook made physical contact with at least one MPD officer and grabbed the baton of another.
At 3:05 p.m., Cook left the Tunnel only to return a short while later where he and other rioters pushed against a line of police officers. At 4:08 p.m., Cook left the area.
The FBI arrested Cook on Sept. 16, 2023, in Maryland.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.
The FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 38 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,358 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
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In the spirit of giving back to our community, we are partnering with Quest to Feed Montgomery to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. We kindly ask each attendee to bring along a non-perishable food item to donate during the event. Every contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way in supporting families facing food insecurity in our area.
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Step into a world where the Caribbean spirit comes alive! From 12:00 PM onwards, immerse yourself in a sensory journey that celebrates the unique culture, cuisine, and music of the Caribbean. Whether you’re an African American, a Reggae or Soca music enthusiast, a wine lover, or part of the vibrant Caribbean diaspora, this festival promises to delight and captivate you in every way.
