Two brothers, one from Central Florida and one from Illinois, were arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their 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 presidential election.
William Bierbrodt, of St. Cloud, Florida, and Joseph Bierbrodt, of Sheridan, Illinois, were charged in a complaint filed in the District of Columbia and unsealed today.
William Bierbrodt is charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. In addition, he is charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; and willfully injure or depredate any property of the United States.
Joseph Bierbrodt is charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and a second felony offense of assault on a federal officer or on a person assisting a federal officer. Joseph is charged with additional misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; physical violence in a restricted building or ground; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; and physical violence in a Capitol building or grounds.
William Bierbrodt was arrested in St. Cloud, Florida, and made his initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida. Joseph Bierbrodt was arrested in Sheridan, Illinois, and made his initial appearance in the Northern District of Illinois. William and Joseph are brothers and were arrested on July 26, 2023.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:41pm, CCTV footage and other open-source videos depict a man, later identified as William Bierbrodt, using his cane to break a window on the Senate Wing fire door and unlatch the locked door, letting in other rioters. Court documents state that Joseph Bierbrodt stood by with his back to the door while William repeatedly hit the window with his cane. The Bierbrodts then entered the Senate Wing through the previously unlocked door, where they and other rioters encountered law enforcement officers attempting to push back rioters and close the door.
Court documents say that after breaching the door, Joseph assaulted a U.S. Capitol Police officer by slamming the officer against a wall. The brothers and other rioters then moved further into the Senate Wing and were met again by a line of police officers. These officers deployed OC spray to prevent the rioters from advancing further.
According to court documents, Joseph then turned around and exited the building at approximately 2:44pm. At approximately 3:02pm, Joseph was photographed assisting his brother with his exit from the Senate Wing.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Northern District of Illinois.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington, Tampa, and Chicago Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or online.
