A Tennessee man, Nicholas Waldon Smotherman, has pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions were part of a larger disruption of a joint session of Congress that was in progress to count electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.
Smotherman, aged 41 and from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, entered his plea in U.S. District Court to the felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. This offense could result in a maximum prison sentence of eight years. The court has scheduled his sentencing for April 23, 2025.
Court documents revealed that Smotherman was seen among rioters on the Upper West Plaza of the Capitol grounds on January 6th. At approximately 2:28 p.m., footage from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer's body-worn camera showed Smotherman wearing body armor and standing near police barricades.
The video captured him advancing toward an MPD officer after rioters began pulling down bike rack barricades. Despite commands to retreat, Smotherman pushed an officer with both hands and resisted attempts by police to push him back using a baton. He then tried to grab the baton while shouting profanities at the officers but retreated when pepper spray was deployed against him.
Following this incident, rioters breached the police line at Upper West Plaza and moved towards Lower West Terrace where significant violence occurred against law enforcement personnel on that day. Smotherman was later identified in this area known as "the Tunnel."
The FBI arrested Smotherman on August 2, 2024, in Hermitage, Tennessee. The prosecution involved collaboration between multiple agencies including the U.S Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and others who provided assistance such as those from Middle District Tennessee.
The investigation into these events continues with over 1,572 individuals charged across nearly all states for crimes related to January 6th incidents; more than 590 have been charged specifically with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers.
Anyone possessing information about these events is encouraged to contact authorities via phone or online channels provided by FBI tip lines.