Ryan Samsel

[1][2] He was charged with several crimes, including forcibly assaulting federal officers; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; carrying out an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds; and obstruction of an official proceeding—the United States Congress’s efforts to certify the election results.

[8][9] In 2006 Samsel allegedly attempted to pull a woman off the road in his car because she owed him $60, punched her windshield, and threatened to kill her.

[10] In 2009, Samsel was convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment after he held a woman against her will for five hours, choked her until she was unconscious, beat her, and chipped her teeth.

[10] In 2019 another woman alleged that Samsel broke into her house violating a restraining order, choked her until she was unconscious, assaulted her, and raped her multiple times.

[9][10][15][2] Samsel, wearing a MAGA hat, had a private conversation outside the Capitol with Joseph Biggs, a top lieutenant in the far-right group the Proud Boys, as they put their arms around each other.

[16][17][8][18] Samsel later told FBI investigators that Biggs had pulled him aside and encouraged him to push the barricades, and challenge and confront the Capitol police.

[20] Edwards later testified to a House of Representatives committee that Samsel pushed a barricade over in a struggle, knocking her down and causing her to hit her head, lose consciousness, and suffer a concussion and a brain injury.

[1][2] Samsel was arrested on January 20, 2021, in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, by a task force made up of FBI agents and local police.