A Tennessee man, Nicholas Waldon Smotherman, age 41, has admitted to assaulting law enforcement officers during the infamous January 6 Capitol breach. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Smotherman pleaded guilty to charges that could see him serve up to eight years in prison. Following his admission in federal court, his sentencing has been scheduled for April 23, 2025.
Court documents, as noted by the U.S. Department of Justice, specifically detail Smotherman's conduct during the Capitol riot, where he was seen wearing body armor and actively engaging in violent actions against officers. The incident, captured on a body-worn camera, shows Smotherman as part of a group attempting to forcibly remove bike rack barricades and advancing toward the police line. Smotherman is documented to have pushed an officer and made attempts to directly grab a police baton while uttering threats.
Authorities ultimately arrested Smotherman on August 2, in Hermitage, Tennessee. His case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia alongside the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, with assistance from the Middle District of Tennessee. The FBI's Nashville and Washington Field Offices led the investigation with support from both the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Since the events of January 6, over 1,572 individuals have been apprehended and charged across the U.S. for their involvement in the Capitol breach, including more than 590 facing felony counts for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. According to the Department of Justice, the probe into the riot is set to continue actively pursuing leads, with the public encouraged to offer up any tips to the FBI.
