A Pennsylvania duo who walked around the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, have been arrested by the FBI and charged with being part of the Capitol incursion.
Melanie M. Archer, 41, of Shaler, Pennsylvania, was arrested Monday on charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Named in the same criminal complaint is Jason Bonenberger, 26, of Cranberry, Pennsylvania, who was arrested by the FBI on March 18. Bonenberger faces the same charges as Archer.
According to a statement of facts filed with the criminal complaint, Bonenberger entered the Capitol at 2:38 p.m. through the west side central doors. Archer entered through the same doorway at 2:44 p.m., the document states.
Security cameras captured footage of Archer and Bonenberger in the Capitol Rotunda and the West Corridor before they were seen exiting the building at 2:57 p.m. They were also photographed on the western exterior stairs. the criminal complaint says.
Archer and Bonenberger are not accused of any altercations with police, vandalism, or entering private offices in the Capitol. One of the charges cites U.S. Code prohibiting visitors to “utter loud, threatening, or abusive language, or engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct, at any place in the Grounds.”
The FBI said it received numerous tips on both defendants from acquaintances, some of whom identified the pair in FBI photos.
The cases will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and were assigned to Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather.
Over the past 14 months, more than 775 people from nearly every state have been arrested for alleged Jan. 6-related crimes.
