Wyoming man convicted of assaulting officers during Jan. 6 riot

A federal judge on Tuesday convicted a western Wyoming man of assaulting law enforcement officers with a flagpole during the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S Capitol.

Douglas Harrington, 69, was found guilty of two felonies — assaulting an officer and civil disorder — as well as five misdemeanors including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and engaging in violence on the Capitol grounds, according to court records and the FBI.

U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg delivered the verdict at the conclusion of a three-day bench trial in Washington, D.C. Harrington, who waived his right to a jury trial, is set to be sentenced Nov. 5.

His conviction comes on the same day that former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term in office, was asked by journalists whether he would pardon rioters who attacked officers during the Jan. 6 attack .

“Oh absolutely, I would,” he said. “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”

“They’ve been convicted,” ABC News reporter Rachel Scott responded.

“They were convicted by a very tough system,” Trump answered.

Flagpole assault

Harrington, who lives in the Star Valley community of Bedford, traveled to Washington for a Jan. 6, 2021 rally by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who was contesting the 2020 presidential election based on unfounded allegations of voter fraud. After listening to Trump speak, a crowd of his supporters forced their way into the Capitol as Congress was working to certify the results of the election.

Video taken from outside the Capitol showed Harrington carrying a flagpole with American and Trump 2020 flags attached to it, according to court documents and an FBI statement. He was wearing a cowboy hat, painter’s respirator mask, goggles and a military-style backpack.

At 3:42 p.m. on that day, Harrington approached a line of officers on the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol grounds, according to an FBI statement and a criminal complaint filed against Harrington. The FBI says he challenged the officers with provocative gestures, then used the bottom of the flagpole to strike in the direction of an officer, who responded by using a “chemical irritant” directed at Harrington.

Officers were attempting to push other rioters away at the time. The FBI says Harrington raised his flagpole to strike the distracted officers. When one intervened and extended a police baton, Harrington swung the flagpole and hit the officer on the left hand, wrist and on the helmet, according to the FBI statement and criminal complaint. He then twice swung the flagpole toward the police line.

Authorities also alleged Harrington was among a group of rioters who used a large, opaque item to block the officers’ view of the advancing crowd. He was further accused of grabbing an officer’s baton and trying to shove an officer by pushing on a riot shield.

When officers began to move rioters away from the Capitol, Harrington initially resisted and was only removed 15 minutes before a curfew went into effect.

Arrest

The FBI later asked for the public’s help in identifying the man who was seen on video and in photos using a flagpole to attack officers. A confidential source came forward to identify the man as Harrington. The FBI found a cell number associated with him, and records showed a phone registered to him in the vicinity of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.

An FBI agent later interviewed a person who knew Harrington and identified him as the man in the video. Authorities obtained a search warrant for an iCloud account tied to his phone and email. It revealed messages that showed his intent to obstruct the election, according to the FBI.

On Dec. 19, 2021, for example, Harrington wrote:

“6 JANUARY 2021 IS THE DAY WE MARCH ON WASHINGTON DC THE WHOLE REASON FOR FREEDOM IS SOMEONES BLOOD PAYS THE PRICE” (SIC)

Two days later, he wrote that he was going to the Jan. 6 rally to “show our support against the STEAL OF OUR VOTES.” The next day, he added “This is my mind made up I will die for our Country if NEED BE BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO TRASH MY COUNTRY ANY LONGER UNDER MY WATCH. THESE COMMIES NEED TO PAY FOR THEIR HIGH CRUMES AND TREASONOUS ATTEMPTED COUP” (SIC)

The messages continued after the riot. Two days after the attack on the Capitol, he wrote to “an intimate partner” and others: “We caused the riot because the government devils dont get it[.]”

Social media that authorities connected to Harrington indicated he was a combat veteran who had served in Vietnam and the Middle East.

Harrington was arrested in August and was released the same month on a personal recognizance bond, which does not require a defendant to post bail.

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