A pro-Trump rioter who bragged about storming the US Capitol and is wanted as a person of interest by the DC police now wants to apologize
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Kelly McLaughlin
Jan 9, 2021, 07:22 IST
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Pro-Trump protesters have entered the U.S. Capitol building after mass demonstrations in the nation's capital.Win McNamee/Getty Images
Josiah Colt, of Boise, Idaho, who scaled a wall in the US Capitol's senate chamber and is now wanted by Capitol Police after Wednesday's riot wants to apologize.
Colt's apology appears to be a backtrack from a number of videos he shared on Wednesday in which he said he was "tired' of people "stealing our freedom."
The apology from Josiah Colt, of Boise, Idaho, comes after he shared a number of videos on Facebook from Washington, DC, on Wednesday in which he gloated about taking part in the Capitol rampage and falsely stated he sat in House Rep. Nancy Pelosi's char while calling her a traitor and a "b---h."
Colt didn't actually sit in Pelosi's chair, because he stormed the Senate chamber, not the House of Representatives chamber. Photos show Colt climbing down a wall in the Senate chamber before sitting at the dais, where the President of the Senate - currently Vice President Mike Pence - sits.
After leaving the Capitol, Colt posted a video in which he said he was "all over the news" and didn't know what to do next.
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"I'm just like every single one of those people that was marching. A peaceful protest, we're here to represent America ... we're tired of being lied to. We're tired of people stealing from us, stealing our freedoms, stealing our liberties. I didn't hurt anybody in there," he said.
"I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair. I said my peace then I helped a gentleman get to safety that was injured then left," he said. "While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in its place. We're still on sacred ground."
He said he thought he was doing the "right thing in the moment," but has since realized his actions were "inappropriate" and is seeking legal advice.
Colt did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Colt is among the people of interest that the Capitol police have highlighted, and the department is looking to speak with in connection with the riot. The FBI is also seeking to identify people involved.
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