Arizona man accused of breaching Capitol on Jan. 6 in gladiator costume
Jul 16, 2021, 2:02 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm
Nathan Entrekin of Cottonwood, Arizona, seen at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in an image taken from his phone, left, and a screenshot of closed-circuit TV footage. (Photos via criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court)
(Photos via criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court)
PHOENIX – An Arizona man faces federal charges for allegedly breaching the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots while dressed as a gladiator figure from Latter-day Saints scripture.
According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Nathan Wayne Entrekin of Cottonwood was dressed as Captain Moroni from the Book of Mormon during the incursion.
Entrekin was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
The FBI agent who submitted the criminal complaint cited evidence found on Entrekin’s phone. The evidence includes video during which the suspect can be heard speaking to his mother, with whom he lives, according to the document.
“I made it Mom. I made it to the top. Mom, look, I made it to the top, to the top here. Look at all the patriots here,” he said in one video, according to the complaint. “I’m here for Trump. Four more years, Donald Trump! Our rightful president!”
Entrekin also appeared in other videos from outside the Capitol, in which he explains the meaning behind his costume and declares his support for then-President Donald Trump.
Waco . 17h45 pic.twitter.com/A7vyK7iEZK
— LAURENCE HAIM (@lauhaim) January 6, 2021
While Entrekin claimed that he was herded into the building by the crowd, the FBI said security video shows Entrekin didn’t appear to be pushed into the Capitol. And when he left the building and re-entered it, investigators said Entrekin didn’t appear to be pushed forced in against his will, according to court records.
Entrekin is the second uniquely dressed Arizonan facing charges in connection with Jan. 6. Jacob Chansley, aka Jake Angeli, aka the QAnon Shaman, has been jailed since his arrest about six months ago.
Chansley was easily recognized after he entered the Capitol wearing face paint and a furry hat with horns while shirtless, exposing distinctive tattoos.
More than 500 suspects have been arrested for their roles in the mob scene on Capitol Hill while Congress was inside certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
At least eighteen people have pleaded guilty, including two members of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group who admitted to conspiring with other extremists to block the certification.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
