A fourth man from Utah is facing charges after allegedly taking part in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
During an interview with the FBI on Jan. 20, Willard Peart said he had traveled to Washington from Utah for the Jan. 6 rally held by former President Donald Trump, according to documents filed last week by the U.S. Department of Justice. After the crowd at the rally marched to the Capitol building, Peart said he originally didn’t plan to go inside, but he decided to enter when he saw other rioters going in.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the FBI confirmed that Peart was in the Capitol, according to the documents. Peart did not participate in any destruction inside the building, but he reportedly “chanted loudly.” He also “admitted to knowingly entering the U.S. Capitol Building with the intent that his entry would impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions.”
Peart is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, according to a criminal complaint.
The first Utahn charged for participating in the riots was activist John Sullivan, who was caught in part because of videos he posted. The other two men, Brady Knowlton and former Salt Lake City police officer Michael Lee Hardin, were charged after tipsters notified authorities that the two had taken part in the insurrection.
