Two brothers from Utah and Iowa have been detained and accused of their alleged involvement in the January 6th Capitol disturbances in Washington, DC.
Earl Jordan, 50, of Dickens, Iowa, and his brother, 48, of St. George, Utah, were taken into custody and charged with crimes related to their suspected involvement in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riots.
The accusations are based on a criminal complaint that was submitted with criminal charges in Washington, DC. Assaulting, resisting, or blocking specific officers, as well as impeding law enforcement during a disturbance, are among the offences listed by officials.
The brothers were also accused of disorderly and disruptive behaviour in a restricted facility or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and knowing entry or re-entry into a restricted building or grounds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
“The FBI has arrested Christopher Jordan in St. George, Utah and he will be making his first appearance in the Utah District. “Earl Jordan was arrested in Spencer, Iowa and will make his first appearance in the Northern District of Iowa,” the U.S. Department of Justice said.
According to the department, two people who were subsequently identified as Earl and Christopher Jordan were allegedly spotted on the West Front of the Capitol grounds in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021, at 2:04 p.m. The Jordan brothers are reportedly captured on body cameras used by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) “near the north stand, an area that became a flashpoint during the day’s unrest,” according to officials.
According to reports, the brothers were observed challenging and fighting local law enforcement. Earl Jordan was allegedly run over by an officer as they moved through the mass of protesters on Lower West Terrace, according to the department. The cop was allegedly knocked off balance by Earl Jordan’s elbow.
Christopher Jordan allegedly rushed at another officer who was present when cops tried to remove Earl Jordan from the area to make room for officers to pass.
“Despite verbal requests from police to “get back,” the brothers continued their aggressive behaviour. “Earl Jordan was allegedly caught punching a police officer in the face before grabbing him by the throat during another encounter,” the department said.
Christopher Jordan is accused of pushing and attempting to seize the officer’s baton at this period. Jordan allegedly misplaced the officer’s baton when someone else put his backpack on, according to the department.
The brothers allegedly persisted in blocking police despite efforts by cops to break free of the crowd and form a police perimeter on the Lower West Terrace of the capital.
Later in the day, the brothers are said to have been involved in another altercation close to the Capitol building’s north entrance, according to the Justice Department.
According to the department, while police attempted to stop rioters from entering the facility, Earl Jordan is seen in the clip allegedly taking up a piece of metal fencing and hurling it towards the north door.
The Jordan brothers, according to officials, stayed on Capitol property until that evening when law enforcement eventually cleared the area.
The case is being looked into by the FBI’s field offices in Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Washington, according to the US Department of Justice. The Metropolitan Police Department and the US Capitol Police offered them support.
