Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 1 of 13 STATEMENT OF FACTS Your affiant is a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and has been so employed since May 2006. As a Special Agent, I have investigated and supervised investigations of violations of federal statutes, including but not limited to counterintelligence, public corruption, bribery, false statements, computer intrusion, kidnapping, terrorism, and other national security matters. I currently am assigned to Squad CR-15 of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Northern Virginia Resident Agency, and I am tasked with investigating public corruption investigations, including foreign influence and obstruction of justice. In the course of my duties, I have conducted and participated in numerous investigations. Among other things, I have participated in and supervised the execution of arrest and search warrants, including warrants authorizing the search and seizure of electronic evidence maintained by internet and e-mail service providers. As a Special Agent with the FBI, I am authorized by law or by a Government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution of a violation of Federal criminal laws. The U.S. Capitol is secured 24 hours a day by U.S. Capitol Police. Restrictions around the U.S. Capitol include permanent and temporary security barriers and posts manned by U.S. Capitol Police. Only authorized people with appropriate identification were allowed access inside the U.S. Capitol. On January 6, 2021, the exterior plaza of the U.S. Capitol was also closed to members of the public. On January 6, 2021, a joint session of the United States Congress convened at the United States Capitol, which is located at First Street, SE, in Washington, D.C. During the joint session, elected members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate were meeting in separate chambers of the United States Capitol to certify the vote count of the Electoral College of the 2020 Presidential Election, which had taken place on November 3, 2020. The joint session began at approximately 1:00 p.m. Shortly thereafter, by approximately 1:30 p.m., the House and Senate adjourned to separate chambers to resolve a particular objection. Vice President Mike Pence was present and presiding, first in the joint session, and thenin the Senate chamber. As the proceedings continued in both the House and the Senate, and with Vice President Mike Pence present and presidingover the Senate, a large crowd gathered outside the U.S. Capitol. As noted above, temporaryand permanent barricades were in place aroundthe exterior of the U.S. Capitol building, and U.S. Capitol Police were present and attempting to keep the crowd away from the Capitol building and the proceedings underway inside. At such time, the certification proceedings were still underway and the exterior doors and windows of the U.S. Capitol were locked or otherwise secured. Members of the U.S. Capitol Police attempted to maintain order and keep the crowd from entering the Capitol; however, around 2:00 p.m., individuals in the crowd forced entry into the U.S. Capitol, including by breaking windows and by assaulting members of the U.S. Capitol Police, as others in the crowd encouraged and assisted those acts. Shortly thereafter, at approximately 2:20 p.m. members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, including the President of the Senate, Vice President Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 2 of 13 Mike Pence, were instructed to—and did—evacuate the chambers. Accordingly, the joint session of the United States Congress was effectively suspended until shortly after 8:00 p.m. Vice President Pence remained in the United States Capitol from the time he was evacuated from the Senate Chamber until the sessions resumed. During national news coverage of the aforementioned events, video footage which appeared to be captured on mobile devices of persons present on the scene depicted evidence of violations of local and federal law, including scores of individuals inside the U.S. Capitol building without authority to be there. Beginning on or about January 8, 2021, the FBI received at least two tips identifying BRUNO JOSEPH CUA (“CUA”) as a participant in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. COMPLAINANT #1 (“C1”), a sworn Law Enforcement Officer (“LEO”), reported CUA to the FBI on or about January 11, 2021.C1 identified CUA in a photograph from a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) presentation titled, “PERSONS OF INTEREST IN UNREST-RELATED OFFENSES.” C1 has had direct interactions with CUA, including in- person, through C1’s official duties as an LEO in the jurisdiction where CUA lives in Milton, Georgia. Aftera follow-up telephone interview with an FBI Agent on January 15, 2021, C1 provided a total of five screenshots/photographs to the FBI, including screenshots of the MPDpresentation, and screenshots from CUA’s Instagram account, @bruno_cua1776. C1 identified CUA facing away from the camera, wearing jeans and a dark sweatshirt, holding a jean jacketwith tan liningin his left hand, and wearing a red baseball hat with the number “45” on the right side of itin the two screenshots of the MPDpresentation.C1alsoidentified CUA wearing the same clothing—including the red hat with number “45” and the jean jacket with tan lining—in screenshots of two other undated Instagram posts from CUA’s Instagram account.1 CUA also appears to be similar height and build as the subject in MPD’s presentation, and has the same hair color. CUA’s jean jacket appears to be inside out in the two MPD presentation screenshots. In the screenshot of an Instagram story from CUA’s Instagram account, CUA stated he “stormed” the Capitol and, along with unidentified others, “physically fought our way in.” The screenshot was captured at 5:33 PM on January 6, 2021. FBI Agents reviewed the screenshot and 1In the Instagram photos provided by C1, CUA is wearing a dark sweatshirt with a logo on the back of the shirt that appears to be a red, white and blue flag over an eagle. In the MPD presentation and video from The New Yorker from the Senate Chamber on January 6, 2021, CUA is in a similar dark sweatshirt, but with the eagle logo on the front of the sweatshirt. FBI Agents reviewed and compared the screenshots, images, and videos of CUA wearing a sweatshirt. Based on the similarities of the sweatshirt colors and the sweatshirt logos seen separately on the front and back, FBI Agents believe that the sweatshirt is reversible or CUA wears at least two versions of the same sweatshirt; one with the logo on the front and one with the logo on the back. In some instances, the sweatshirt CUA is seen wearing looks brown; in other instances, the sweatshirt looks grey. Additionally, in some instances, the sweatshirt logo is on the front and in other instances the same logo is on the back. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 3 of 13 determined CUA posted the Instagram story at approximately 5:13 PMon January 6, 2021,based on an Instagram timestamp of “20m”meaning that the story was posted twenty minutes earlier. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 4 of 13 On January 17, 2021, The New Yorker published a videotitled, “A Reporter’s Video from Inside the Capitol Siege”. The video documents individuals as they fought their way inside the U.S. Capitolon January 6, 2021, and shows those who made it all the way to the Senate floor. The video shows CUA in the Senate Gallery at a video timestamp of approximately 4:21. At a timestamp of approximately 4:27, CUA is seen in front of a marble wall wearing the dark sweatshirtred hatand holding the same jean jacket from screenshots provided by C1. CUA is also holdinga cellular phone and appearsto be actively filming.At a timestamp of approximately 4:32, CUA is seen facing the camera, wearing the dark sweatshirt, holding the same jean jacket in his left hand,acellular phone in his right hand, while wearing grey gloves. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 5 of 13 In the same video at a timestamp of approximately 4:44, CUA is heard off camera stating, “They can steal an election, but we can’t sit in their chairs?” In an in-person interview with FBI Agents on January 20, 2021, C1 identified CUA speaking in the video at the same timestamp. Shortly thereafter, in the same video at a timestamp of approximately 4:45, the camera pans to CUA standing in the back of the Senate Chamber. CUA is seen with his cellular phone in his right hand, the inside-out jean jacket in his left hand, wearing the red hat, and the darksweatshirt. At this point in the video, thelogo of an American flagin the shape of what appears to be aneagle is visible on CUA’s sweatshirt. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 6 of 13 On January 20, 2021, FBI Agents conductedanin-personinterview of C1.FBI Agents also interviewed WITNESS #1(“W1”)and WITNESS #2 (“W2”), both of whom are sworn LEOs. W1 and W2 positively identified CUA based on theirdirect and indirect interactions with CUA through their official duties as LEOs in the jurisdiction where CUA lives in Milton, Georgia. C1, W1, and W2 eachreviewed the video from The New Yorker after its release on January 17, 2021. C1, W1, and W2eachindependentlyidentified CUA as speaking in the video at the same approximate timestamp of 4:44.W1 corroborated the identification of CUA in screenshotsof CUA provided by C1. W2 also corroborated the identification of CUA in the same screenshots. In a separate video captured by U.S. Capitol Police (“USCP”) closed circuit television (“CCTV”)camerasof the events of January 6, 2021, CUA is seen outside the Senate Gallery near S309 at a video timestamp of approximately 0:04. CUA is seen wearing jeans, with the same previously identified jean jacket, dark sweatshirt, and red hat, while holding what appears to be a baton in his right hand and acellular phone in his left hand. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 7 of 13 In the same video at an approximate timestamp of 0:16, CUA is seen outside the Senate Chamber doors, in a physical altercation withUSCP plain clothes officers,still holding a baton in his hand.Specifically, CUA canbe seen shoving USCP Officer G.L.(“G.L.”)in front of the door to the Senate Chambers. CUA is then seen entering the Senate Chambers through the open door at an approximate timestamp of 0:27. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 8 of 13 On January 14, 2021, an FBI Agent interviewed G.L. via telephone. On January 6, 2021, G.L., a plain clothes officer with the USCP, was posted at the Senate Chambers with two other USCP officers. All three officers were dressed in suits.G.L. and the two other officers went to the third floor to attempt to lock the doors to the Senate Chambers. While attempting to secure the third floor a large group of people started coming down the hall. A number of individuals attempted to gain access to the room that the officers were trying to secure. Shoving ensued between the officers and at least one of the individuals in the group. G.L. did not recall what any of the individuals looked like or what they were wearing.Video footage from USCP confirms that CUA is one of the rioters who shoved G.L. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 9 of 13 In another USCP CCTV video fromthe East Corridor near S306, CUA is seen walking down the cooridor wearingthe same jean jacket, grey gloves, dark sweatshirt, and red hat. CUA is seen carrying what appears to be a baton in his right hand and acellular phone in his left hand. During the same video, CUA is seen attempting to open a brown door at an approximate timestamp of 0:19. As he continues down the cooridor, CUA is observed wearing the same previously identified attire, including the dark sweatshirt with logo, while twirling a baton in his right hand. Case 1:21-mj-00187-ZMF Document 1-1 Filed 01/29/21 Page 10 of 13 On January 21, 2021, C1 provided the FBI with a photograph taken from a law enforcement encounter between a local law enforcement department and CUA on January 3, 2021, in the jurisdiction where CUA lives in Milton, Georgia. In the photograph, CUA is seen wearing the same jean jacket and grey gloves that he wears in The New Yorker video and in USCP CCTV videos. On or about January 8, 2021, the FBI received a tip identifying CUA’s Parler account, @PatriotBruno with display name Brunocua, along with posts from CUA’s account. In some of the posts, CUA referenced plans to travelto Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.In other posts, CUA stated, “President Trump is calling us to FIGHT!” and “This isn’t a joke, this is where and when we make our stand. #January6th, Washington DC.” The tip also stated CUA “actively encouraged the events on the sixth for 11 days leading up to the domestic terrorist attack.”