Brothers from Oregon pleaded guilty today to felony and misdemeanour charges stemming from their conduct during the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their 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.
Jonathanpeter Allen Klein, 24, of Pendleton, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder and one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss.
Matthew Leland Klein, 27, of Pendleton, Oregon, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder and a misdemeanour charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds before Judge Moss.
The two men will be sentenced on November 15, 2024.
According to court documents, the brothers travelled from Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021. After attending the rally, the brothers made their way toward the Capitol building and entered into the restricted perimeter before separating.
At about 2:00 p.m., a group of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived at the Northwest edge of the grounds to assist and reinforce the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), who were outnumbered by the amassing crowd on the West Plaza of the Capitol. The MPD officers had organized themselves into a two-line formation and then attempted to make their way through the crowd to reach other law enforcement on the West Plaza police line.
As the MPD officers were attempting to move through the crowd of rioters, Jonathanpeter Klein threw a piece of audio-visual equipment at the officers. The object directly hit an MPD officer in the helmet, causing the officer to stumble.
At approximately 2:18 p.m., Matthew Klein and Jonathanpeter Klein entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door and separated. Matthew Klein was carrying a Gadsden flag and left the building approximately ten minutes later through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door.
Jonathanpeter Klein traversed most of the building through the crypt, Rotunda, and House side of the Capitol. Jonathanpeter then left the building and reunited with his brother.
After exiting the building, the two men joined with a group of other rioters struggling against police to open the North Door of the Capitol. Through these combined efforts, the rioters, including Matthew and Jonathanpeter, were able to force the door open.
Immediately after breaching the North Door, Matthew positioned himself in front of the North Door to obstruct police officers who were emerging from the building to disperse the rioters. Matthew also used his flag to interfere with the officers attempting to resecure the door.
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