A man running to fill the House seat left vacant by expelled Rep. George Santos (R) has been found guilty of charges related to the Jan. 6th Capitol riot.
According to a press release from the Justice Department, Philip Sean Grillo of Queens, N.Y., was found guilty of five charges, including one felony, and convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and misdemeanor of entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
Nineteen people have declared their candidacy for the Long Island seat so far. Grillo is currently a representative for Assembly District 24.
According to The Hill, Grillo has yet to be sentenced, but according to evidence presented at trial, he was “at the front of a group of rioters facing the police line” on the West Plaza of the Capitol. He entered the building through a broken window and carried a megaphone.
Someone stopped Grillo inside the Capitol, where he said, “I’m here to stop the steal. It’s our F—ing House,” according to the Justice Department. Grillo made several videos on his phone, including one showing him smoking marijuana inside the Capitol.
Last week, the House voted 311-114-2 to expel Santos after a House Ethics report said there was clear evidence Santos committed serious crimes and said the New York Republican “blatantly stole from his campaign” and “deceived donors into providing what they thought were contributions to his campaign but were in fact payments for his personal benefit.”
Santos faces 23 federal counts related to campaign finance, wire fraud and other allegations, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
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