A California man identified as Sean Michael McHugh has been found guilty in the District of Columbia of felony charges for his actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.
According to Department of Justice, Sean Michael McHugh, who is from Auburn, California, was found guilty yesterday, following a stipulated bench trial, of obstruction and assaulting, impeding, or interfering with law enforcement officers. U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 7, 2023.
According to evidence presented in court, McHugh was on the Lower West Terrace on the afternoon of January 6 where he was captured on video footage and audio assaulting multiple U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers.
McHugh, 35, is captured on video carrying a cannister of bear spray in a holster on his hip and discharging the bear spray into a line of USCP officers.
Metropolitan Police Department body worn camera video and audio captures McHugh yelling at officers, among other things, “You’re protecting communists!”; “There is a Second Amendment behind us, what are you going to do then?”; and “You ain’t holding the line!” At approximately 1:40 p.m., McHugh, along with other rioters, pushed a large metal sign into a line of uniformed police officers while McHugh yelled into his megaphone, “Put it up there! Put it up there!”