WASHINGTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Marcus Clint Martin, 33, of Blountstown, Florida, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to two felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates will sentence Martin on July 19, 2024.
According to court documents, Martin was identified in multiple open-source videos and images as present among the crowd of rioters on Jan. 6, 2021. Early in the afternoon of January 6th, a crowd of rioters overran a line of police officers at the Peace Circle to the Northwest of the Capitol building. Martin made his way to the front of the crowd and attempted to rile them up by raising his hands in the air. After the crowd overran the line, Martin pushed over protective barricades on the West Plaza.
As the crowd of rioters continued to amass on the West Front of the Capitol, Martin applied first aid to another rioter, who was injured and bleeding from the face. A police officer then approached and attempted to render aid to the injured rioter; however, Martin prevented the officer from doing so and began to fight the officers present in the area, including by using his left shoulder to push away a police officer.
Shortly after, the crowd of rioters overran and knocked down a police officer. Another officer then responded to assist the downed officer; however, Martin assaulted the responding officer. Specifically, Martin pushed his body into the officer and yanked the officer forward by the uniform. Other rioters then joined in the melee, and Martin used his bodyweight to pin the officer to the ground near his head.
The FBI arrested Martin on July 31, 2023, in Panama City, Florida.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida provided valuable assistance.
The FBI’s Tampa and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 38 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,358 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Originally published at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/florida-man-pleads-guilty-assaulting-law-enforcement-during-jan-6-capitol-breach-1
