Brief

Wisconsin man arrested for entering U.S. Capitol during riots

By: Henry Redman - January 12, 2021 5:41 pm

Photo of Loftus inside the Capitol that he posted to Facebook. (FBI)

An Eau Claire man was arrested Tuesday for going into the U.S. Capitol during the violent riots on Jan. 6.

Kevin Daniel Loftus, 52, posted photos online of himself in the Capitol as it was being attacked. He faces two federal misdemeanor charges for knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds.

“That’s right folks some of us are in it to win it,” Loftus wrote on Facebook.

Loftus also told FBI agents that he’d been inside the Capitol, according to the criminal complaint.

“I am wanted by the FBI for illegal entry,” Loftus wrote.

According to the complaint, Loftus was identified through the social media posts and a witness confirmed it was him.

Loftus appeared in court by video Tuesday afternoon in front of U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Crocker. He was released from custody under the conditions that he not possess firearms or use alcohol.

He’s next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 15 at noon.

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Henry Redman

Henry Redman is a staff reporter for the Wisconsin Examiner who focuses on covering Wisconsin's towns and rural areas. He previously covered crime and courts at the Daily Jefferson County Union. A lifelong Midwesterner, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in journalism in May 2019.