Senator releases photos of man wanted in connection with Capitol riot

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) released photos of a man he said was wanted in connection with last week’s deadly riot at the Capitol.

The Louisiana Republican posted two photos on Twitter, saying he received them from the Capitol Police.

Cassidy said the man was wanted in connection with the death of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick’s death due to injuries sustained during the Capitol riot last week.

But police later disputed Cassidy’s characterization, telling The Hill that the “individual in the photo is a person of interest for another incident. The U.S. Capitol Police and FBI are looking for any information about the individual and his activities on January 6, 2021.”

Cassidy’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One of the photos shared by Cassidy shows a man with a beard in the mob of Trump supporters at the Capitol. In the photo, he is wearing a blue hat with the letters “CFD” on it and a gray and black plaid shirt. The other shows a man wielding a red object.

Last week’s violence at the Capitol resulted in five deaths.

Sicknick, who served 12 years with the Capitol Police, died on Thursday from injuries he sustained “while physically engaging with protesters,” the force said in a statement. Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that Sicknick was struck on the head with a fire extinguisher while defending the Capitol.

The 42-year-old officer was one of five people who died amid the Capitol attacks last week. During the attacks, pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol building to disrupt Congress from certifying the Electoral College count confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. 

One woman died after being shot by a different Capitol Police officer, and three others died after experiencing “medical emergencies.”

The riot forced the House and Senate to pause the debates on the election results and prompted lawmakers to evacuate to secure locations before law enforcement regained control.

Lawmakers confirmed Biden’s win hours later when Congress reconvened.

More than 50 Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police officers were injured in the riot. Another Capitol Police officer, Howard Liebengood, who was on the scene, died while off duty, the force announced and The Washington Post reported over the weekend.

Sicknick’s family released a statement on Monday describing him as “sweet natured through and through,” saying he “loved his job with the U.S. Capitol Police, and was very passionate about it.”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ordered Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff in response to Sicknick’s death.

Trump requested the White House flag be flown at half-staff on Sunday after he received criticism for not making the order sooner, including from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

Updated at 4:16 p.m.