East Williston lawyer charged in Jan. 6 Capitol breach, feds say

John O’Kelly, 66, of East Williston, New York, is charged... — John O’Kelly, 66, of East Williston, New York, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, for his actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Credit: USANYE

By Robert Brodskyrobert.brodsky@newsday.com @BrodskyRobertOctober 20, 2022

An East Williston attorney attempted to assault law enforcement officers with a baton during the Jan. 6 breach at the United States Capitol, and was seen on video pushing metal bike rack fencing used to secure the building's perimeter, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

John O’Kelly, 66, was arrested by the FBI at his East Williston home Thursday.

He is charged in a criminal complaint in Washington, D.C. with felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, as well as related misdemeanor offenses. U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione released O’Kelly on $100,000 bond.

The Long Island Federal Defenders Office, which represented O’Kelly during his Central Islip arraignment, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

O'Kelly made his way to the west front of the Capitol grounds during the insurrection where rioters were fighting with law enforcement officers, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said he was attempting to disrupt a joint session of the U.S. Congress to count the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election, won by Democrat Joe Biden.

Shortly before 2:30 p.m., O’Kelly emerged from the crowd and grabbed at the baton of a Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer, attempting to take his weapon, prosecutors said.

The officer fought back and was able to keep the baton in his possession, officials said. O’Kelly then took a step back and pushed the bike rack being used to secure the perimeter into the line of officers, charging documents state.

"[Body worn camera] footage shows that the MPD officer fought intensely and successfully to keep his baton in his possession," according to an FBI statement of facts.

Police body camera footage from the riot shows the suspect wearing off-white pants, a brown cargo type jacket, brown leather gloves and a white earpiece, according to FBI investigators.

The FBI released photos of the suspect and he was identified through an online tipster as O'Kelly, the FBI said.

O'Kelly also had a reservation at the Residence Inn Arlington Ballston hotel in Arlington, Va., located seven miles from the Capitol for Jan. 5, 2021, investigators found.

Nearly 900 individuals have been arrested for their role in the Capitol riot, including over 270 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, prosecutors say.