A Crawford County man was arrested Friday on charges relating to criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
A news release from the U.S. Department of Justice said Jeremy J. Vorous, of Venango Township, is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and obstruction of any official proceeding.
A criminal complaint submitted by the FBI says Vorous has been identified in numerous photos and videos from the riot at the Capitol, both through anonymous tips and via agent investigation.
He was interviewed by the FBI on Jan. 29, the complaint said.
“Vorous admitted to being at the Capitol, and inside the Capitol building on Jan. 6,” the complaint said.
Vorous reportedly told agents he did not “go to commit violence” and that he believed the protests would be peaceful “like the protests in Wisconsin a few years ago.”
“Vorous also said that he believes someone had an agenda and got people to do things they had no intention of doing otherwise trying to make them look like terrorists,” the complaint said.
The complaint said Vorous described entering the building through a door that had been propped open, which he believes had been left open by a Capitol police officer.
Vorous also described milling around the area of the Capitol Crypt with several officers, one of whom he said took a photo of him standing before a statue of Abraham Lincoln.
The complaint said Vorous’ claims have not been verified.
Vorous said he returned to the Capitol the next day and reported himself to Capitol police officers.
The complaint also says that at the time Vorous entered the building, “loud audible alarms were going off in the area.”
A man appearing to be Vorous has also been identified in several videos taken outside of the Capitol building that depict the man making threats toward police officers, calling them “cowards” and shouting violent and obscene rhetoric, the complaint said.
Vorous had an initial video appearance Friday morning before U.S. magistrate judge Richard A. Lanzillo.
He was released on bond, according to the Department of Justice news release.
Vorous is next scheduled for a preliminary examination and identity hearing on Thursday.
