Dillon man guilty in U.S. Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON – A Montana man was found guilty Wednesday of several felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer, 55, of Dillon, Montana, was found guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder, both felonies, following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the felonies, Judge Cobb found Muntzer guilty of misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Judge Cobb will sentence Muntzer on June, 20, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, Muntzer traveled from Montana to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, with a group of friends in order to hear the former President’s speech. After the speech, Muntzer joined the crowd in walking from the Ellipse to the restricted grounds of the Capitol. Muntzer entered into the restricted perimeter and made his way to the West Plaza. After other rioters had breached the scaffolding erected at the West Plaza’s north side, Muntzer joined the mob in surging up the northwest stairs before reaching the Upper West Terrace at approximately 2:35 p.m.
After reaching the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace, Muntzer recorded multiple videos in which he commented that he had passed “through all the tear gas” to “tak[e] the Capitol by storm.” From there, Muntzer entered the Capitol building via the Upper West Terrace Door at approximately 2:44 p.m.
Muntzer then proceeded through the Rotunda and toward the Senate Chamber. Once inside the Chamber, Muntzer was involved in a series of physical confrontations with law enforcement officers. Muntzer then entered into the Rotunda by approximately 2:55 p.m.
In the Rotunda, Muntzer joined a crowd of rioters in confronting a group of police officers blocking a doorway leading to the Capitol’s Upper West Terrace. Muntzer positioned himself at the front of this crowd and joined in a collective effort to push back the officers, who had their backs to a set of stairs.
By approximately 3:03 p.m., police had begun attempting to clear the Rotunda of rioters and had established a line across the middle and instructed rioters to exit through the East Rotunda Door. However, the crowd of rioters, including Muntzer, resisted. Muntzer continued to resist police efforts to clear the Rotunda and was one of the very last rioters present in the area. Muntzer exited the Capitol building via the Rotunda Doors at approximately 3:22 p.m.
Muntzer was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 18, 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, Helena Resident Agency and Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.