Marine Corps officer pleads not guilty in Capitol riot

A Marine Corps officer on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges for his alleged involvement in the riot at the Capitol that took place on Jan. 6.

Maj. Christopher Warnagiris, who in March became the first active-duty service member to be charged in connection with the attack, entered his plea during a virtual arraignment, according to WTOP.

He was charged with nine counts, including assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; and obstruction of justice.

Warnagiris, 40, has reportedly been stationed at Quantico Marine Corps Base since last summer and has served since October 2002. He has been deployed at least four times, including to Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to his charging documents, Warnagiris was identified by a former co-worker from FBI wanted photos, WTOP reported.

The Marine Corps condemned Warnagiris’s alleged actions at the time of his arrest in March.

“The Marine Corps is clear on this: There is no place for racial hatred or extremism in the Marine Corps,” Maj. J.A. Hernandez, a spokesperson for the service, said at the time. “Our strength is derived from the individual excellence of every Marine regardless of background. Bigotry and racial extremism run contrary to our core values.”

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman on Monday granted a defense motion to allow Warnagiris to visit nearby family members.

He is set to return to court on Aug. 27.