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Justin McAllister is seen holding two flags as he faces off against law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. One flag reads “Jesus Is My Savior” and the other reads “Trump Is My President.” Inset top: McAllister fighting with the flagpoles. Inset bottom: McAllister (images via FBI court filing).
A Georgia man is accused of using a flag declaring his devotion to both Jesus and Donald Trump to assault police at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Justin McAllister, 29, was arrested on Sunday, the Justice Department announced in a statement on Tuesday. He allegedly joined the mass of Trump supporters who advanced on the Capitol as Congress began to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral win. According to prosecutors, he was among the crowd of rioters gathered near a police line on the West Front of Capitol grounds, and his memorable apparel made his political views apparent.
“I stand for the flag” read his T-shirt, while his hat said: “Trump Train.” He was also apparently wearing a backpack with red straps around his shoulders.
“Wearing the black and white baseball cap with red brim, McAllister approached the police line holding a flagpole with a dark colored flag which read ‘Jesus is My Savior’ and ‘Trump is My President,”” a probable cause affidavit in support of McAllister’s arrest says. “In addition, McAllister can be seen holding a second white flagpole.”
He then raised the two white poles behind his head, the affidavit says.
“McAllister then repeatedly uses both poles to strike at officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and he makes contact with the helmet of an MPD officer holding the line,” prosecutors allege.
Security footage shows McAllister entering the Capitol at around 2:53 p.m., around 45 minutes after the initial violent breach of the building. Once inside, the affidavit says, he is seen “interacting with law enforcement” and appearing to join the crowd in a chant. He allegedly exited after spending around 9 minutes inside.
McAllister is charged with assaulting police and civil disorder, both felonies, as well as four trespassing and disorderly conduct misdemeanors. The assault charge carries a potential eight years in prison and the civil disorder charge has a maximum of five years.
Read the court filing detailing McAllister’s offenses here.
