Charles Tyler Himber (Images from court documents)
A Louisiana man who denied to FBI agents he was inside the U.S. Capitol building during the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, but took a group selfie in the rotunda and bragged on social media of his exploits faces felony charges, authorities said.
Charles Tyler Himber, 30, was charged with a felony offense of civil disorder and several misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.
He joined thousands of Donald Trump supporters protesting Congress certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral win that day. After the “Stop the Steal” rally, Himber went to the Capitol and passed through the restricted perimeter, filming himself while he went, officials said.
On the east side of the Capitol, he and other rioters allegedly tried to push past police. At one point, Himber screamed, “Let us in!” authorities said.
Minutes later, at 2:21 p.m., as rioters were trying to enter the building while others were trying to get out, Himber and a group pushed past police, allegedly got in and pushed into the rotunda where police surrounded Himber and others and escorted them out. Before he left, though, Himber took part in a group selfie, court documents said.
Himber allegedly wrote of his exploits on social media.
“Storm in Capitol Hill is a go … drain the swamp manually … Evacuating Capitol Hill pushing back,” authorities said one post read.
His alleged Facebook posts saying, “We’re in” and “Making history” on Jan. 6, 2021, brought him to the attention of the FBI, court documents said.
In an interview with FBI agents on May 12, 2021, Himber said he traveled to Washington to attend the rally but claimed that his Facebook post saying, “We’re in,” was made when he heard that others had entered the Capitol, officials said.
“He added that he did not enter the restricted area in or around the Capitol,” court documents said. “This, as shown above, was false.”
In another interview on Aug. 31, 2023, he told an agent he went to Washington on Jan. 5 but denied entering the Capitol the next day, authorities said.
“When shown a picture of himself in the building, however, Himber recanted, and said that he entered the building, but had been pushed into the crowd, and was only there for a second before being immediately escorted out of the building,” court documents said.
He also allegedly claimed to help law enforcement officers and civilians who had been injured, including a woman who had been stabbed — statements authorities said they couldn’t prove.
