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They used social media images of the man to compare with the Capitol riot footage and his wife's Facebook posts to verify his identity.
The investigation got a head start in February when—according to prosecutors—an anonymous tipster sent them screenshots of Facebook posts written by Edwards' wife, Lynn Feiler Edwards, detailing his actions inside the government building.
Feiler Edwards' intention was presumably to defend her husband by portraying him as a likable individual. She claimed he assisted those who were hurt—including police officers—during the deadly siege incited by former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly spread false claims of a stolen election.
But her endeavor to protect him backfired as her posts eventually led the FBI to their door.
According to an FBI affidavit, Feiler Edwards chronicled her husband's alleged involvement in detail inside the Capitol during the riot.
Feiler Edwards wrote, in part:
"Okay ladies let me tell you what happened as my husband was there inside the Capitol Rotunda."
"There was a small group of young men dressed in military garb who yelled 'we r going in!' "
"They broke the barricade down, ran up the steps, broke a window and climbed in."
"They broke some furniture. Then proceeded to storm the floors."
After the mob broke into the building, she said the "police were milling around doing nothing."
"Gary walked around the back of the building and climbed the stairs walking right into the rotunda."
"He stood there and heard and saw teargas blasts."
She claimed Gary tended to the officers who suffered exposure from said alleged teargas blasts.
"The police were right next to him as Gary poured water on their eyes."
"He stayed to chat w the police who were calm."
"Prior to Gary getting in evidently one woman was shot."
The victim Feiler Edwards referred to was Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt—who was fatally shot by a United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer after she tried to climb through a broken window of the Speaker's Lobby after the rioters stormed the building and tried to break down doors leading to the chambers of Congress and congressional offices.
In another post on Feiler Edwards' Facebook page, she again maintained Gary interacted with the police, who were "very calm."
"Gary walked around carrying flags of the US."
"Gary walked right through the door into the rotunda.
"Chatting with the police who were very calm."
She claimed her husband joined the other insurrectionists in singing the National Anthem twice and cooperated when they were asked to leave.
She didn't specify which "flags of the US" her husband carried.
She concluded the post with:
"These were people who watched their rights being taken away, their votes stolen from them, their state officials violating the constitutions of their country and people who are not being given the opportunity to be able to have evidence shown."
Some speculated Feiler Edwards might have had an ulterior motive in posting about her husband's involvement.
After investigators received the anonymous tip indicating Edwards had been inside the Capitol on January 6, court documents said the Justice Department identified him through video footage and compared his obtained license photo with a photo from Feiler Edwards' Facebook page.
Edwards was circled in red in the photo as it appeared in the court document.
U.S. Dept. Of Justice
The affidavit also mentioned Feiler Edwards' posts were deleted or removed from public view "at some point after January 6, 2021."
According to Business Insider, Edwards was arrested on Tuesday and charged with five counts, including "violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds, disruption of official business, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building."
More than 450 people have been charged so far for their participation in the pro-Trump Capitol siege that resulted in the deaths of five people—including Brian D. Sicknick, a USCP officer.