A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Brian Healion, 33, of Upper Darby, is scheduled for sentencing on June 13, 2024.
According to court documents, Healion, a Philadelphia Proud Boys chapter member, traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest Congress’s certification of the Electoral College vote for the 2020 presidential election. Healion was a member of the Ministry of Self Defense or MOSD, a hand-selected sub-group within the Proud Boys created by former Proud Boys Chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio as a “national rally planning” chapter.
Read: Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Joins Matt Gaetz On Exonerating Trump Of Any J6 Wrongdoing
In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, court documents say that Healion knew Congress was meeting at the Capitol on January 6th to certify the votes of the 2020 Presidential Election.
Healion posted a message in a chat with other members of the MOSD that said, “What time is the whole political/presidential situation happening that day? With pence {SIC} and the electoral votes? And are we planning for either an unlikely joyous moment of pence [sic] growing balls?”
On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Healion met with approximately 100 other members of the Proud Boys at the Washington Monument and proceeded to follow Proud Boys leadership – including Ethan Nordean and Philadelphia Proud Boys President Zachary Rehl – on a march toward the Capitol building.
A few minutes later, as the group marched past U.S. Capitol Police officers at approximately 11:28 a.m., members of the group taunted them, yelling “Treason,” and warning the officers, “Don’t make us go against you.”
Read: Florida “Proud Boy” Gets More Than 24 Months For Role At Capitol On J6: DOJ
The group, including Healion, continued to march around the perimeter of the Capitol grounds before arriving at the Peace Circle at the edge of the restricted permitter of Capitol grounds.
By the time he arrived at the U.S. Capitol, Healion had concealed his face using a black gaiter. Proud Boys leadership then led the crowd, including Healion, in a chant and a surge toward the police line.
The crowd, including Healion, crossed over and trampled bike rack barriers in their advance toward the Capitol building. Once on Capitol grounds, Healion assisted other rioters with crossing back and forth over the police line and witnessed other rioters engage with officers by attempting to pull bike rack barricades away from the police.
Healion then moved to the front of the crowd opposite the line of officers and reached out to try and grab a bike. Court documents say that he attempted to grab the bike rack to interfere with the officers’ efforts to maintain a police line. Less than one minute later, Healion succeeded when he again reached out toward the bike rack, grabbed it, and yanked it away from a Metropolitan Police Department Officer.
Read: In PBS Documentary, J6 Committee Members, Supporters Acknowledge Proceeding Was A Sham
Healion then followed other Proud Boys members to the Upper West Terrace of the building and eventually into the building at approximately 2:53 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. Once inside, Healion and others entered the office of a U.S. Senator and posed for pictures. After spending approximately 20 minutes inside the building, Healion and other members of the Proud Boys exited via a broken window.
The FBI’s Philadelphia and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.