Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Capitol Rioter Who Broke Into Senator's Office Told FBI He Thought He'd Visited A 'Gift Shop'

Capitol Rioter Who Broke Into Senator's Office Told FBI He Thought He'd Visited A 'Gift Shop'
FBI

Court filings in the case of Brian Stenz, a Capitol rioter due to be sentenced later this month for the role he played during the attack, reveal he did not tell the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) he had entered the office of Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, claiming instead he had visited a "gift shop."

Stenz attended the “Stop the Steal” MAGA rally in Washington, D.C. with a friend on January 6, 2021. The two men joined rioters who marched to the United States Capitol, later entering the building and walking around for about eight minutes.


Stenz took several photos at the time, including an image of a bookshelf inside Merkley's office which had been ransacked and a selfie of him and his friend in the crypt.

FBI

According to a sentencing memorandum filed Thursday by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Stenz told the FBI he had posed for a photo atop a police motorbike parked outside the Capitol but said “he went into a place that appeared to be a gift shop" omitting the fact he had entered Merkley's office.

The memorandum states Stenz, who lives in East Norriton, Pennsylvania, knowingly lied to the FBI despite a "significant criminal history," noting he "engaged in this conduct" despite facing charges in Pennsylvania at the time of his interview. Those charges related to falsified documents for a firearm purchase.

The news of Stenz's conduct exposed him to considerable mockery online.



The government suggested that Stenz receive a 14-day sentence followed by 36 months of probation, 60 hours of community service, and $500 in restitution.

Stenz had faced charges that he knowingly entering a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct, violent entry, and parading. He ultimately pleaded guilty in November 2021 to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a charge that carries a six-month maximum prison sentence and a fine up to $5,000.

Stenz is only the latest Capitol rioter who has made headlines for behavior exposed in court filings.

In December 2021, attorneys for Buffalo, New York resident Thomas Sibick asked a federal judge to relieve him from a 24-hour lockdown at his parents' home so he can use dating apps and "interact with members of the opposite gender for the purpose of establishing a friendship.”

Similarly, other rioters have been mocked for displaying entitled behavior.

Also in December 2021, Jenna Ryan, a Frisco, Texas real estate agent who flew to D.C. on a private jet to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally, attracted widespread derision for vowing to devote her prison time to losing weight by doing yoga and drinking protein shakes.

More from Trending

Labubu Dolls
Lars Penning/picture alliance/Getty Images

People Are Convinced Viral Labubu Dolls Are Based On Ancient Demons—And Snopes Just Weighed In

Social media trends, especially on TikTok, have become incredibly intense, as people feel a deep need to be a part of the movement, participate in the conversation, and have the products everyone else is showing in their videos.

A popular trend right now is the collection of Labubu dolls.

Keep ReadingShow less
Julia Garner
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Walt Disney Company Limited

Julia Garner Had The Classiest Reaction To Fan Backlash Over Female Silver Surfer In New 'Fantastic Four' Film

An enthusiastic, engaged fan base can be a wonderful thing to experience—if the fans don't turn toxic.

Unfortunately, far too many members of sci-fi, fantasy and superhero/comic book fandoms are openly hostile to anyone who doesn't resemble the cast from the "good old days" of those genres—when their fictional universes were primarily populated by White, cisgender, heteronormative, men and the "dames" they hit on.

Keep ReadingShow less
Meghan Reinertsen
@meghanreinertsen/TikTok

TikToker's Food Poisoning Chaos

After enough time had passed, TikToker Meghan Reinertsen felt comfortable sharing a food poisoning incident on a United Airlines flight while.

She also offered a long-overdue apology to those affected by the canceled flight thanks to a “disturbance deep, deep within my bowels.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Leah Remini and Maddie
@leahremini/Instagram

Leah Remini Posts Touching Tribute To Fan She Met Through Make-A-Wish Who Recently Passed

You never know when or where you're going to meet a person who will make a special impact on your life.

For Leah Remini, it was when she received a call from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, introducing her to a young girl named Maddie, who was a huge King of Queens fan and whose wish was to meet Leah Remini and her husband on the show, Kevin James.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosie O'Donnell; Donald Trump
Olivia Wong/Getty Images; Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Rosie O'Donnell Fires Back At Trump With Epic Rant After He Threatens To Strip Her U.S. Citizenship

Actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell condemned President Donald Trump after he announced in a post on Truth Social that he is considering stripping her U.S. citizenship, labeling her a "Threat to Humanity."

O’Donnell, who was born in the U.S., moved to Ireland shortly before Trump’s inauguration. In an April interview with CNN, she said it was his reelection that ultimately prompted the move, citing the risks Project 2025 poses to her and her nonbinary child—especially after decades of being in Trump's crosshairs.

Keep ReadingShow less