Man charged in Capitol riot says he’s running for Congress

A New Hampshire man who was charged over his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol says that he is running for Congress, WBTS reported on Monday.

“In the long run, if you’re running for office, any attention is good attention, so I think it will help me,” Jason Riddle told the NBC News affiliate.

Riddle says he is running against Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) in the 2022 midterms, but he appeared confused as to whether defeating her would send him to Concord, N.H., or Washington, D.C.

“I thought Ann was a state representative,” Riddle told WBTS. 

When it was made clear that Kuster represents New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District in D.C., Riddle reportedly responded, “Oh, well, I guess I have to run for that then.”

A strong supporter of former President Trump, Riddle said that he entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 and drank a bottle of wine that he found in a senator’s office, taking a photo of the experience. 

He was arrested by the FBI in February and charged with knowingly entering a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and theft of government property. 

A veteran, Riddle is barred from going to D.C. due to the pending charges against him.

He has a court hearing for his charges next month.

“Despite my ongoing legal problems, I’m supposed to live my life the way I want, and I want to do this, so why not?” Riddle asked.