Virginia Man Arrested for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Press Release

WASHINGTON - A Virginia man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement and other charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged 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 2020 presidential election.

John Paul Bordeaux, 36, of Floyd, Virginia, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with two felony offenses, including civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

In addition to the felonies, Bordeaux 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, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol of buildings.

The FBI arrested Bordeaux today in Virginia, and he made his initial appearance in the Western District of Virginia.

According to court documents, Bordeaux was identified on Jan. 6, 2021, at about 2:10 p.m. within a group of rioters on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds. There, Bordeaux was yelling at police officers while the police deployed tear gas and other crowd control measures. Police body-worn camera depicts Bordeaux walking along the Lower West Terrace and waving at other rioters as if to encourage them to follow. Bordeaux was also seen helping other rioters get closer to a line of police officers fending off a surging crowd.

At about 2:33 p.m., it is alleged that Bordeaux can be seen rushing down a set of stairs toward the police line. It is alleged that Bordeaux encountered officers in line, raised his fist, and started punching a police officer's riot shield. It is alleged that Bordeaux can be seen stepping back, still with his fists raised, and punching the riot shield several more times.

At one point, it is alleged that the police officer holding the riot shield that Bordeaux was attacking, used the shield to knock Bordeaux down. However, Bordeaux got back up and continued to attack the shield. The officer again knocked Bordeaux down, but Bordeaux continued his attack. Shortly after this attack, the crowd surged against the police line, causing the officers to retreat.

Bordeaux later allegedly reached the entrance to a door that led to the Upper West Terrace and waived for other rioters to help him open it.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia provided valuable assistance.

This case is being investigated by the FBI's Richmond and Washington Field Offices. Bordeaux was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #328. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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Updated October 9, 2024