A South Carolina man is accused of participating in the violent riots at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.
According to Federal prosecutors, Andrew Hatley was one of the many Trump supporters who forced their way into a restricted building and engaged in disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds two weeks ago.
The FBI pieced together the Easley, S.C. native’s trip to Washington, D.C via cell phone data and geolocation positioning.
A witness at the riot was able to provide investigators with a picture Hatley taken in front a statue dedicated to white supremacist and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun inside the Capitol building, according to the federal record. From there investigators took six days, but were able to obtain records via several apps that gave them a digital trail left behind by Hatley, who even tried to deny his involvement through a Facebook post.
“It has come to my attention that there was someone who looks like me at the Capitol,” Hatley said. “I’d like to set the record straight. I don’t have that kind of motivation for lost causes. I just don’t care enough anymore, certainly not enough for all that.”
However, after the FBI caught up with Hatley his story took a turn.
“When Hatley was asked about the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Hatley advised he was not sure how much he should say without legal counsel because he could be in a great deal of trouble,” the complaint reads.
FBI uses geolocation to charge South Carolina man in U.S. Capitol riot was originally published on wbt.com
