BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A Nampa man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Theo Hanson, 54, is charged with felony offenses of obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Hanson is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted area, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Hanson was arrested on Thursday by the FBI in Nampa and was set to make his initial appearance Friday in district court.
According to court documents, Hanson traveled from his home, then in San Diego, to Washington, D.C., and was present inside the Capitol building and on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. Court documents say that Hanson was identified on CCTV footage illegally entering the Capitol via the Senate Wing Door at approximately 2:22 p.m. and is seen making his way toward the Crypt.
At about 2:30 p.m., Hanson was observed outside of the Crypt on the east side of the building. Moments earlier, law enforcement authorities sought to close a series of security doors to prevent rioters from gaining access to additional areas of the building; however, rioters used trash cans and chairs to both obstruct the gate and assault officers. In CCTV footage, Hanson is seen standing underneath one of these security doors, waving his hands back and forth to prevent it from closing.
Court documents say at approximately 2:37 p.m., Hanson was observed near the East Rotunda Doors. When he arrived, the doors were closed; however, other rioters soon forced them open as Hanson watched and applauded. Hanson was then seen assisting other rioters illegally entering the building.
At about 2:42 p.m., while he stood inside the East Rotunda Doors, Hanson repeatedly obstructed efforts by law enforcement to close the doors, which would have prevented rioters from further accessing the building. CCTV footage depicts authorities repeatedly attempting to close the doors while Hanson uses his body to keep them open. At about 2:44 p.m., a police officer again sought to close one of the doors; however, Hanson was seen moving forward and pushing the door back with his hand. Again, at 3:09 p.m., officers sought to close the doors, but Hanson pushed them open with his body.
An officer then attempted to move Hanson out of the building; however, in response, Hanson was seen placing his hand against an interior wall and moving against the wall to prevent his removal. Hanson remained near the East Rotunda Doors until he exited the Capitol at about 3:33 p.m.
Hanson's case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.
The FBI’s Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington Field Offices are investigating. Assistance was provided by the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency, the Nampa Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. Hanson is the ninth person to be arrested in Idaho on Capitol breach charges, according to a database on the Department of Justice website.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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