WASHINGTON (WBOC/CBS)- A man who was pictured carrying a Confederate flag through the hall of the U.S. Capitol during last week's riot has been arrested on federal charges, authorities said Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware said Kevin Seefried of Laurel, Del., has been identified as the man in the widely-circulated photo.
The FBI's Washington, D.C., field office put out a poster (see below) asking the public's assistance in identifying Seefried.
According to the federal government's statement of facts, video footage from the U.S. Capitol show Kevin Seefried and his son, Hunter Seefried, also of Delaware, enter the Senate Building through a broken window at approximately 2:13 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. The statement of facts continue to say that thereafter, Kevin Seefried was photographed holding a Confederate battle flag inside the Capitol building. Authorities said that while in the building, both men were part of a larger group of individuals who verbally confronted several U.S. Capitol police officers for approximately 15 minutes. During this time, video footage from the U.S. Capitol Police shows Hunter Seefried using a phone to take a selfie photograph or video at approximately 2:29 p.m. Both Kevin and Hunter Seefried appear to depart the Capitol at approximately 2:36 p.m. from the Senate Carriage Door, according to the statement of facts.
"At no time were they authorized to be inside the U.S. Capitol complex," the statement of facts said regarding the two men.
The statement of facts note that Kevin and Hunter Seefried were identified after the FBI received a report from a coworker of Hunter Seefried relaying that Hunter Seefried had "bragged about being in the Capitol with his father" on Jan. 6, 2021."
The statement of facts further said that the reporting individual confirmed that Hunter Seefried was visible in a Metropolitan Police Department flier depicting individuals who breached the Capitol Building’s security. The FBI reviewed Kevin Seefried’s driver’s license photo and it matched the image of the individual holding the Confederate battle flag, according to the statement of facts. The statement of facts add that the FBI was also able to confirm that Kevin Seefried is Hunter Seefried’s father.
According to the statement of facts, Kevin Seefried told the FBI he had brought the Confederate flag with him to Washington from his Delaware home, where he normally displays it outside. The statement of facts went on to say that Kevin Seefried told law enforcement that he had traveled with his family from Delaware to the Washington to hear President Donald Trump speak and that he and Hunter Seefried participated in a march from the White House to the Capitol led by an individual with a bull horn.
Both Kevin and Hunter Seefried are facing federal charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. The two men were slated to have a virtual court appearance on Thursday afternoon.
U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss of the District of Delaware issued the following statement regarding the arrests of Kevin and Hunter Seefried:
"Last week’s breach of the U.S. Capital Building was nothing less than an assault on our democracy. Those who participated must be held accountable. As I have said previously, this office is committed to working with our partners at the Department of Justice to investigate, apprehend, and where appropriate prosecute Delawareans who committed criminal acts."
Federal authorities are investigating more than 170 people — more than 30 of whom now face federal charges — in the Jan. 6 Capitol assault that left five dead. Hundreds more charges are expected as federal investigators comb tips, video and social media to identify and arrest suspects across the country.
Both Kevin and Hunter Seefried are facing a maximum six months in prison on the Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct on Capitol Grounds charge and ten years in prison and fine of $250,000 for Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Entry.
The terms of their release on bail are:
- must not leave Delaware without permission except for travel to Washington, D.C. for court appearances only
- can not drink alcohol excessively or do drugs
- must remain at home except for work, court obligations, or church
- have form of location monitoring and report as soon as possible to the pre-trial services office
Those already charged face a variety of counts including unlawful entry, disorderly conduct, theft, assault and weapons violations. A team of senior federal prosecutors are investigating more serious charges including sedition and conspiracy related to the "most heinous" acts at the Capitol, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin said Tuesday.
