Brothers Charged with Assaulting Officers During Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON — Two brothers, Christopher Jordan of St. George, Utah, and Earl Jordan of Dickens, Iowa, have been arrested for their alleged roles in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. The incident disrupted Congress as it convened to count electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.
The Jordans face several charges, including felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. They also face misdemeanor charges for allegedly entering or remaining in restricted areas and engaging in disorderly conduct.
Christopher Jordan was apprehended in St. George, Utah, and will appear in court in the District of Utah. Earl Jordan was arrested in Spencer, Iowa, and will make his initial court appearance in the Northern District of Iowa.
Court documents indicate that on January 6, 2021, the Jordans were seen on the West Front of the Capitol grounds. Police body cam footage showed them near the north scaffolding, a key area during the unrest. The brothers allegedly confronted law enforcement officers, with Earl Jordan reportedly using his elbow to knock an officer off balance.
As officers tried to clear the area, Christopher Jordan allegedly lunged at another officer, ignoring commands to step back. Earl Jordan was seen swiping at an officer and reportedly grabbed an officer by the throat. Simultaneously, Christopher Jordan allegedly attempted to snatch an officer’s baton.
Despite efforts by officers to form a line, the Jordans reportedly blocked them. A bystander pulling Christopher’s backpack caused him to release his grip on the baton. Both brothers then blended into the crowd, allowing officers to regroup.
Later, near the Capitol’s North Door, Earl Jordan was allegedly seen throwing metal fencing as officers struggled to maintain control. The brothers remained on the grounds until officers cleared the area in the evening.
The case is prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Utah and Iowa. The FBI’s Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Washington Field Offices are leading the investigation, aided by U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Since January 6, over 1,504 individuals from nearly all states have faced charges related to the Capitol breach, with more than 560 charged with assaulting law enforcement officers. The investigation is ongoing.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
