Brandon Straka the pro-Trump founder of the ‘Walkaway’ movement was charged Monday in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, making him the latest person to face charges after live-streaming their attendance at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
The ‘WalkAway’ campaign began on Facebook in the summer of 2018 after Straka, a handsome, gay hairdresser from New York posted a video explaining why he was walking away from the Democrat party.
Brandon Straka, founder of the #WalkAway social media campaign, is now, best as I can tell, the first “Stop the Steal” speaker to be charged in the #CapitolRiot – although not in connection to either the Jan. 5 or 6 rallies. Here’s the permit listing him as a speaker on Jan. 5. pic.twitter.com/XEkebu3OhQ
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) January 25, 2021
Straka, 44, was taken into custody on Monday by agents from the FBI Omaha Field Office and faces charges of impeding a law enforcement officer during civil disorder, knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority and/or engaging in disorderly conduct within proximity to a restricted building to impede official functions and engaging in disorderly conduct with intent to disturb a hearing before Congress.
According to the complaint, the FBI received many tips about Brandon Straka’s involvement in the protest at the Capitol, including one from his own relative.
KETV reported:
Court documents show that officials were tipped off about Straka posting a video near the Capitol entrance, shouting “go, go!” The video was later removed and officials said they could not find any video or posts on his Twitter page relating to his actions at the Capitol.
However, the FBI was sent multiple screenshots. These screenshots reportedly revealed that Straka made the following comments on Twitter on Jan. 6.:
- “Patriots at the Capitol – HOLD. THE. LINE!!!!”
“I arrived at the Capitol a few hours ago as Patriots were storming from all sides. I was quite close to entering myself as police began tear-gassing us from the door. I inhaled tear gas & got it in my eyes. Patriots began exiting shortly after saying Congress had been cleared.”
“I’m completely confused. For 6-8 weeks everybody on the right has been saying ‘1776!’ & that if congress moves forward it will mean a revolution! So congress moves forward. Patriots storm the Capitol – now everybody is virtual signaling their embarrassment that this happened.”
“Also- be embarrassed & hide if you need to- but I was there. It was not Antifa at the Capitol. It was freedom loving Patriots who were DESPERATE to fight for the final hope of our Republic because literally nobody cares about them. Everyone else can denounce them. I will not.”
“Perhaps I missed the part where it was agreed this would be a revolution of ice cream cones & hair-braiding parties to take our government back from lying, cheating globally interested swamp parasites. My bad.”
His sentencing is TOMORROW!!! He pleaded “guilty” and I hope he’s okay!