Brothers Matthew and Andrew Valentin from Pennsylvania were arrested and are facing criminal charges in Washington, D.C., related to their actions during the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The charges include assaulting officers with batons, throwing a folding chair at them, and spraying chemical irritants.
Both brothers, aged 31 and 26 respectively, were charged with entering and remaining in a restricted area, disorderly conduct in a restricted building, acts of physical violence in the Capitol, assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and civil disorder.
Surveillance footage and witness interviews were utilized by prosecutors to build a case against the Valentin brothers. The footage showed them breaching police barriers, pushing through a bike rack, and assaulting officers. Matthew Valentin was seen holding a baton and a spray canister, releasing a burst of orange mist toward officers.
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The brothers were also documented recording video and taking part in the chaos, with Andrew Valentin allegedly hurling a folding chair at a line of police. Matthew Valentin was seen reaching out to grab a police baton.
The Valentin brothers have made initial appearances in federal courts in Pennsylvania. The specific court dates for their appearances in Washington, D.C., are yet to be determined.
