August 1, 2024 – WASHINGTON – An Arizona man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his alleged actions during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to verify and count electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Jason Robert Tasker, 43, of Glendale, Arizona, is charged with felony assault, resisting or obstructing certain police officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon and felony obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disturbance. He is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. . In addition to the felonies, Tasker is charged with entering and remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct, parades, or demonstrations inside the Capitol. , or four misdemeanor charges including picketing. Inside the National Diet building.

Tasker will be arrested in Arizona on July 30, 2024, and will make his first court appearance in the District of Arizona.

According to court documents, Tasker attended a “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, and then headed to the west side of the Capitol. Tasker then climbed the northwest stairs and helped other rioters descend and remove the bike racks. Tasker then descended onto the Northwest Lawn and joined a group of rioters surrounding several U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers.

Tasker chased the officers around the Capitol, yelling, “You're all fired. Go home!” Tasker then arrived at the North Examination Entrance on the east side of the Capitol. Here, a group of USCP officers were positioned behind a barricaded line of bicycle racks. Tasker shouted at these officers, and within minutes a group of rioters, including Tasker, broke through the fence and entered East Square.

Tasker then walked to the door of the Senate carriage and forced his way into the crowd of rioters attempting to enter the building. Mr Tasker then jumped towards a group of police officers guarding the entrance to the building, but they pushed him back. These officers then began attempting to clear the rioters from the building. Tasker then lunged toward the officers again and was grabbed by two USCP officers.

After Mr. Tasker allegedly lunged at him a second time, officers deployed OC spray and forced Mr. Tasker to back up. Tasker then allegedly joined the mob on the east steps and entered the Capitol building around 2:43 p.m. Inside, Tasker entered the rotunda through the east door. In the Rotunda, Tasker began taking photos with his cell phone as a police line formed to direct the crowd of rioters from the Rotunda. Tasker approached the police line, confronted the officers and remained in the building until about 3:13 p.m.

After Mr. Tasker left the building, he allegedly remained on the Capitol steps and made a phone call. “I was like the first person, mama,” Tasker can be heard saying in the third-person video. Tasker allegedly remained outside the Rotunda door for more than an hour and continued to confront police.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Division of the Department of Justice's National Security Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

The case is being investigated by the FBI's Phoenix and Washington field offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 42 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,470 people in nearly all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach, including felony assault or obstruction of justice charges. It includes more than 530 people who were indicted. The investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with tips should call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

A complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.