The editor of an Orthodox Jewish newspaper identified for being ‘politically incorrect’ was simply charged with assault through the Capitol Riot

Elliot Resnick, 39, was chief editor of The Jewish Press when he joined the gang of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, based on an FBI agent’s affidavit.

Movies present Resnick grabbing and holding the arm of a Capitol police sergeant who was spraying a chemical irritant to forestall rioters from getting into the constructing, the affidavit says. One other officer tried to take away Resnick’s hand from the sergeant’s arm, the agent wrote.

The FBI arrested Resnick in New York Metropolis on fees together with civil dysfunction and assault of or interference with legislation enforcement. Clay Kaminsky, an legal professional representing Resnick in New York, declined to touch upon the costs.

The Jewish Press, based mostly in Brooklyn, payments itself as the biggest unbiased weekly Jewish newspaper within the U.S. A press release on its web site says it’s “identified for its editorial feistiness” and “was politically incorrect lengthy earlier than the phrase was coined.”

Politico reported in April 2021 that video confirmed Resnick contained in the Capitol on Jan. 6. Resnick later wrote an article defending the Capitol riot with out acknowledging his presence within the constructing that day, Politico’s report famous.

On the time, The Jewish Press writer Naomi Mauer informed Politico that the newspaper believed Resnick “acted inside the legislation.” A press release from The Jewish Press editorial board confirmed Resnick was within the Capitol on Jan. 6 and had been “protecting the rally and the remainder of the day’s horrible occasions” for the newspaper.

The editorial board wrote, “The Jewish Press doesn’t see why Elliot’s private views on former President Trump ought to make him any totally different from the handfuls of different journalists protecting the occasions, together with many contained in the Capitol constructing through the riots.”

Then-President Trump addressed a crowd of his supporters on the “Cease the Steal” rally on Jan. 6. The mob that stormed the Capitol disrupted a joint session of Congress that was certifying Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

Earlier than the riot, Resnick posted social media messages echoing Trump’s baseless claims that Democrats stole the election from him, based on posts cited by the FBI affidavit.

Resnick had been a reporter and editor at The Jewish Press since 2006. He left the newspaper in Might 2021, earlier than the FBI says it started investigating him.

The Jewish Press workers didn’t instantly reply to e mail and phone messages searching for touch upon Resnick’s arrest.

Roughly 1,000 individuals have been charged with federal crimes associated to the Capitol riot. A number of riot defendants have claimed that they had been appearing as journalists after they joined the mob in getting into the Capitol, however prosecutors and judges have routinely rejected these claims.

For the previous two years, the FBI has been fanning out throughout the county to arrest Capitol riot suspects. The instances are sometimes based mostly on suggestions that they acquired within the first months after the riot.

The FBI agent’s account of Resnick’s actions on Jan. 6 painting him as an lively participant within the riot.

Video confirmed Resnick repeatedly gesturing for others to return up stairs towards the Capitol after rioters broke by a line of cops, the agent’s affidavit says.

Renick was one of many first rioters to enter the Capitol by the East Rotunda doorways, based on the FBI. After getting into the constructing, Resnick joined others in trying to push open a door {that a} police officer was attempting to maintain closed, the FBI mentioned. One other officer who tried to cease Renick was thrown to the bottom by a unique rioter.

Resnick grabbed and pulled different rioters into the Capitol after he didn’t open the door, based on the affidavit. It says he spent roughly 50 minutes contained in the Capitol earlier than leaving.