An Arkansas man has been taken into custody for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other offenses connected to the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. This incident disrupted a joint session of Congress tasked with certifying the electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.
James Edward Porter, aged 59 and from Hot Springs, Arkansas, faces charges in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. He is accused of felony offenses including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder.
Porter also faces several misdemeanor charges such as entering or remaining in restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly conduct in these areas, engaging in physical violence within restricted premises, and disorderly conduct inside a Capitol building.
The FBI arrested Porter on January 16, 2025, in Benton, Arkansas. His initial court appearance is scheduled for today in the Western District of Arkansas.
Court documents state that on January 6, 2021, Porter attended a rally at the Ellipse before moving to the west side of the U.S. Capitol building. There he allegedly joined others at the front line attacking police officers protecting the Inauguration stage.
During this confrontation with law enforcement officers, Porter reportedly pushed against an officer and grabbed their baton. A struggle ensued until Porter's hand was removed from it by another officer. He then allegedly lunged forward to push another officer but retreated after an orange chemical irritant was deployed by another rioter.
The prosecution is being handled by both the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western District of Arkansas.
The investigation is led by FBI’s Little Rock and Washington Field Offices with assistance from U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.
Since January 6th incident over four years ago more than 1,583 individuals across nearly all states have been charged related to breaches at US Capitol including over six hundred facing felony charges related specifically towards assaults or impediments against law enforcement officials; investigations continue actively underway still today
Anyone having relevant information can contact authorities via calling number provided: "1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324)" or visiting online platform: "tips.fbi.gov."
It should be noted that complaints serve only as allegations where defendants maintain presumption innocence unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt through legal proceedings conducted within courts lawfully established jurisdictional framework