Hiding in plain sight: Capitol rioter decides to attend Presidential inauguration, arrested

An alleged Capitol rioter – Samuel Camargo – was arrested in Washington DC on Wednesday, trying to attend Joe Biden’s Inauguration Ceremony. The Floridian is set to face trial in federal court for the first time on Thursday afternoon, CNN reports.

With knowledge that he was wanted by the Justice Department for his involvement in the US Capitol riots on January 6, Camargo decided to skip town and attend the oath taking instead, Justice Department said in a new court filing. Prosecutors in Washington say that when law enforcement tried to arrest Samuel Camargo at his home in Florida on Tuesday, he had left.

The CNN report further states that, Samuel Camargo told investigators that he knew he was wanted by the Justice Department and “decided that he should attempt to attend the Inauguration rather than turn himself into authorities,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing on Thursday. He was found in the capital on Wednesday and was arrested.

Camargo is charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, civil disorder, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds, according to a criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, a former classmate and social media friend tipped off the FBI that Camargo had posted pictures and content on his Instagram and Facebook pages showing him participating in the rally and riot.