A former U.S. Capitol Police officer was convicted on Friday of obstructing an FBI investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by deleting Fb messages he despatched to a rioter afterward, federal prosecutors stated.
A jury discovered Michael Riley, 51, responsible of a single depend of obstruction of justice following his trial in federal court docket for the District of Columbia, a U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace spokesman stated.
Jurors deadlocked on a second obstruction of justice depend in opposition to Riley, prosecutors stated. U.S. District Choose Amy Berman Jackson declared a mistrial on that cost.
The obstruction of justice conviction carries a statutory most of 20 years in jail, though federal sentencing pointers sometimes name for much less time behind bars.
“Michael Riley by no means obstructed any grand jury continuing, nor did he try or intend to take action,” his legal professional, Christopher Macchiaroli, stated in a written assertion.
Macchiaroli stated Riley meant to lift authorized challenges to the decision with the trial court docket and in future attainable appeals.
Prosecutors say Riley was not on obligation on the Capitol Constructing in Washington on Jan. 6 however grew to become conscious of the occasions there. Seeing {that a} Fb “buddy” was concerned, he messaged the person, telling him to take down what might be seen as incriminating posts.
Riley deleted the messages after studying that the FBI had been involved along with his Fb buddy. The 2 males had not met in particular person.
Supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after he delivered a fiery speech at a rally close to the White Home claiming that his defeat within the 2020 presidential election by Joe Biden was the results of fraud.
