Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement with a Dangerous Weapon During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Maine man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous weapon 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.

            Christopher Maurer, 45, formerly of Biddeford, Maine, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon before U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. Jude Boasberg will sentence Maurer on Nov. 6, 2024

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Maurer was among a crowd of rioters amassed on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol building near an area known as the Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. Court documents say that Maurer entered the Tunnel and made his way to the front of the police line. Here, Maurer confronted a group of police officers preventing further access into the Capitol.

            While inside the Tunnel, Maurer grabbed onto a police riot shield being used by an officer and attempted to rip it away. Maurer also attempted to use his body to push against officers in the Tunnel and exited after approximately eight minutes.

            At about 3:50 p.m., Maurer returned to the Tunnel entrance and added his body weight, force, and momentum to a coordinated "Heave-ho" push against the police line and grabbed onto a canister of chemical irritant held by another rioter. A short while later, Maurer returned and threw a stick-like  object into the Tunnel at the line of police officers. Court documents say that the stick ricocheted off the Tunnel wall and struck a police officer in the helmet. Maurer also used a cellphone cord that he then whipped at officers inside the Tunnel.

            The FBI arrested Maurer on Feb. 22, 2023, in Maine.

            The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine provided valuable assistance. 

            The FBI's Boston and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 42 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 530 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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