Maryland elections official quits after being hit with Jan. 6 charges

Carlos Ayala, a Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections, resigned from his post Thursday after the FBI arrested him Tuesday on charges related to participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Maryland State Elections Board Chair Michael Summers confirmed the resignation in a statement Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

“The board is committed to maintaining the security and integrity of our elections in Maryland in a non-partisan manner,” Summers said. “The State Board will remain steadfast in our mission to oversee our elections process and serve as a trusted source of information for all Marylanders during the presidential election year.”

Ayala’s attorney, James Trusty, declined to comment to the AP.

Ayala was arrested Tuesday and charged with civil disorder — a felony — and related misdemeanor offenses.

In court documents, prosecutors allege Ayala was identified among a group of rioters illegally gathered on restricted Capitol grounds near scaffolding set up for the upcoming inauguration. He can be seen in video footage climbing over police barricades and moving toward the front of the crowd gathered by the Senate Wing door of the Capitol, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).

He can then allegedly be seen inside a window near the Senate Wing Door using CCTV footage from within the Capitol building. The DOJ said he was holding “a distinctive black and white flag affixed to a PVC pipe flagpole bearing the words ‘We the People’ and ‘DEFEND.’ Featured prominently on the flag was an image of an M-16-style rifle.”

The DOJ alleges an unidentified rioter was later seen in “the same area where Ayala was present, jabbing a flag and flagpole at a USCP officer.” Ayala could not be identified on CCTV footage at that time, however, according to the department.

Ayala was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Elections last year by Gov. Wes Moore (D) after the Republican Party recommended him. Moore was required by law to nominate at least two Republicans to the five-person board.

More than 1,265 people have been charged in connection to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, the DOJ said.