Iowa man charged in Capitol riot says he chased officer so QAnon would "get the credit"
WASHINGTON, DC (IOWA'S NEWS NOW) — Doug Jensen, the Iowa man seen in video pursuing a Capitol Police Officer during last week's riot on Capitol Hill, made his first court appearance Tuesday.
Jensen is charged with six federal charges: Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building without Lawful Authority; Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building; Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer During a Civil Disorder; and Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.
According to the criminal complaint filed in court, Jensen is an "adherent of QAnon, also known as Q." They allege Jensen was among the first to push his way inside the Capitol, refusing multiple orders by law enforcement to stop, put his hands up, and back up.
As the crowd moved forward, a lone Capitol Police officer ordered Jensen to stop and put his hands up. Rather than comply with the order, Jensen led the crowd toward the officer in a menacing manner, causing the officer to retreat and repeat his commands. Jensen continued to lead the crowd toward the officer. When the retreating officer reached a staircase, the officer turned and ran up a flight of stairs in an attempt to get to back up. The video footage captures Jensen chasing the officer up the stairs and shouting at the officer. Twice more, the officer orders Jensen to stop and raises his hand to keep Jensen from advancing. Both times Jensen continued to advance in a menacing manner, with the crowd following behind him, forcing the officer to continue to retreat. The officer was able to retreat to an area occupied by several additional Capitol Police officers, at which point the officers were able to stop Jensen and the rest of the crowd from advancing.
Jensen turned was arrested over the weekend. Social media posts identified Jensen in video posted online of the attack.
During his interview with Des Moines Police, Jensen admitted that he was the person seen in the video published on The Guardian. Jensen specifically admitted chasing the Capitol Police officer up the stairs, and that he refused to obey the officer’s lawful orders. Jensen stated that he intentionally positioned himself to be among the first people inside the United States Capitol because he was wearing his “Q” t-shirt and he wanted to have his t-shirt seen on video so that “Q” could “get the credit.”
Jensen is among dozens now facing charges in connection with the riot. Federal authorities continue to circulate video images of those who took part to find those responsible, including the person who struck a Capitol Police Officer in the head with a fire extinguisher, killing the officer.
READ THE FULL CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE:
