A 34-year-old Texas man has been arrested for taking part in the storming of the United States Capitol this month and posting violent threats, including a call to assassinate Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Garret Miller, who is from the Dallas suburb of Richardson, was arrested on Friday after being named in a five-count federal complaint.
Miller faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstructing or impeding any official proceeding; and certain acts during civil disorder.
A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday.
Garret Miller, 34, of Richardson, Texas, was arrested on Friday and charged with several counts after authorities said he posted images and video of himself inside the United States Capitol during the MAGA riot on January 6
On the day of the riot, Miller posted a message on Twitter in which he wrote: 'Assassinate AOC', a reference to House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democrat from New York
After posting a selfie photo of himself on Facebook showing him inside the Capitol, one commenter on Facebook wrote: 'bro you got in?! Nice!' Miller responded to the comment on the picture with: 'just want to incriminate myself a little lol,' according to an FBI affidavit
Federal authorities allege that Miller posted photos and videos on his social media accounts that show him inside the Capitol during the January 6 storming of the building by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
They also say he called for violence in online posts, including a tweet that simply read 'Assassinate AOC,' a reference to the liberal Ocasio-Cortez.
The tweet was in response to a call from Ocasio-Cortez to 'impeach' Trump on the day of the riot.
In another tweet, Miller posted: 'They are right next time we bring the guns,' an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.
Miller also threatened a US Capitol police officer during an exchange on Instagram, writing that he planned to 'hug his neck with a nice rope,' the affidavit states.
After posting a selfie photo of himself on Facebook showing him inside the Capitol, one commenter on Facebook wrote: 'bro you got in?! Nice!'
Miller responded to the comment on the picture with: 'just want to incriminate myself a little lol,' according to an FBI affidavit.
Ocasio-Cortez on Friday posted Miller's charging document on her Twitter feed.
Ocasio-Cortez on Friday posted Miller's charging document on her Twitter feed
She quoted Miller's statement about incriminating himself, noting: 'Well, you did!'
The New York congresswoman then tweeted: 'On one hand you have to laugh, and on the other know that the reason they were this brazen is because they thought they were going to succeed.'
She quoted Miller's statement about incriminating himself, noting: 'Well, you did!'
The New York congresswoman then tweeted: 'On one hand you have to laugh, and on the other know that the reason they were this brazen is because they thought they were going to succeed.'
Miller's attorney, Clint Broden, said in an email to The Associated Press that Miller regrets the actions he took 'in a misguided effort to show his support for former President Trump.'
'His social media comments reflect very ill-considered political hyperbole in very divided times and will certainly not be repeated in the future,' Broden said.
'He looks forward to putting all of this behind him.'
Miller is scheduled for a detention hearing on Monday.
According to the FBI’s criminal complaint, another law enforcement agency alerted federal investigators to a Twitter account with the handle @garretamiller, which contained video posted from inside the Capitol. The 14-second clip, which had the caption ‘From inside congress,’ was posted at 6:56pm on January 6
![On Twitter, one commenter wrote: 'The people storming The Capitol are not Patriots. They are PAID INFILTRATORS.' To which Miller replied: 'Nah we stormed it. We where [sic] gentle. We where [sic] unarmed. We knew what had to be done ...'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/01/23/23/38397732-9179929-image-a-16_1611443397998.jpg)
On Twitter, one commenter wrote: 'The people storming The Capitol are not Patriots. They are PAID INFILTRATORS.' To which Miller replied: 'Nah we stormed it. We where [sic] gentle. We where [sic] unarmed. We knew what had to be done ...'
According to the complaint, Miller acknowledged on social media that he was one of the rioters inside the Capitol, though he disputed that the mob was trying to carry out a ‘coup,’ noting that people were ‘unarmed’
In another tweet, Miller posted: 'They are right next time we bring the guns,' an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit
'We are hopeful that, given his family support and regret for his actions, he will be released so that he can resolve the charges against him in a timely fashion,' Broden said.
According to the FBI’s criminal complaint, another law enforcement agency alerted federal investigators to a Twitter account with the handle @garretamiller, which contained video posted from inside the Capitol.
The 14-second clip, which had the caption ‘From inside congress,’ was posted at 6:56pm on January 6. It showed a crowd inside the Capitol Rotunda, according to the complaint.
The FBI subpoenaed AT&T and learned that the account was connected to a phone number registered to Miller.
Investigators then traced the phone number to a home address where Miller lived.
A van registered to Miller was parked in the driveway of the address, according to law enforcement officials.
According to federal investigators, Miller also posted several items on his Facebook page indicating that he was going to the US Capitol on January 6.
One post indicating that he was driving ‘across the country for this Trump s***.’
On January 3, he allegedly wrote that he was bringing with him a grappling hook, a level 3 bulletproof vest, helmets, a mouth guard, and a bump cap, which is worn under the helmet and offers impact-resistant protection.
On the day of the riot, images posted to Miller’s Facebook page show him inside the Rotunda, according to the FBI complaint.
Surveillance footage said to show Miller put him inside the Capitol at around 2:46pm
He is seen wearing a patterned backpack and a backwards red 'Make America Great Again' baseball hat while carrying two flags - an American flag and a Trump flag
Miller faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstructing or impeding any official proceeding; and certain acts during civil disorder
Authorities say that those images match Miller’s driver’s license photo.
Surveillance footage said to show Miller put him inside the Capitol at around 2:46pm.
He is seen wearing a patterned backpack and a backwards red 'Make America Great Again' baseball hat while carrying two flags - an American flag and a Trump flag.
Miller is also seen in a video that shows a crowd of people pushing into the Rotunda.
According to the complaint, Miller acknowledged on social media that he was one of the rioters inside the Capitol, though he disputed that the mob was trying to carry out a ‘coup,’ noting that people were ‘unarmed.’
On Twitter, one commenter wrote: 'The people storming The Capitol are not Patriots. They are PAID INFILTRATORS.'
To which Miller replied: 'Nah we stormed it. We where [sic] gentle. We where [sic] unarmed. We knew what had to be done ...'
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