An Ohio man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Clay Norris (a.k.a. “Clayton Norris”), 48, of Canton, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
According to court documents, Norris was allegedly identified on the East Front of the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021, around 12:45 p.m., outside of the metal bike rack barricades marking the restricted perimeter of the U.S. Capitol. Here, Norris allegedly walked behind the barricades, chanting and yelling at officers lined up on the opposite side of the barricades and in front of the Capitol building. Norris could allegedly be heard chanting, “Stop the steal!”, “Whose house?”, and “Fight for Trump!”, among other things, almost always projecting his voice through a megaphone.
Using his megaphone, Norris allegedly yelled at officers and spoke with individuals in the crowd. Norris allegedly told one individual in the crowd, “I got bad news. We’re pushing through. You better get down with us or back off because we’re pushing through.”
At approximately 1:45 p.m., together with other rioters in the crowd, Norris allegedly pushed the metal fencing that formed the barricade against U.S. Capitol Police Officers, who were attempting to prevent rioters from advancing towards the Capitol building.
Photos and videos from various angles allegedly depict Norris pushing the barricade against police officers.
Court documents say that Norris allegedly breached the barricades after the push. Still, officers were able to reestablish the police line and marshal rioters like, allegedly, Norris, who had allegedly broken through back behind the barricades. While pointing to the Capitol building, Norris again allegedly yelled at police officers, stating, “We don’t want you guys. We want them,” referring to elected officials in the building.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., while Norris was allegedly still behind the barricades, third-party video and closed-circuit video from the Capitol show rioters pushing the metal barricades against U.S. Capitol Police on a second occasion. Norris allegedly moved some of these barricades, and rioters were able to breach and move toward the Capitol successfully. Norris then allegedly moved forward to join the advancing crowd of rioters.
It is alleged that Norris and other rioters advanced into the restricted area of the Capitol grounds and towards the Capitol building. According to a third-party video, Norris was allegedly one of the first rioters to reach the East Central Steps of the Capitol building. He ascended the East Central Steps, where another police line had formed halfway to the top.
Norris was allegedly directly in front of the police line, and he continued to yell at police officers through a megaphone. Among other things, Norris allegedly motioned with his left hand toward the Capitol building and told police officers, “Send those [expletives] out to talk to us,” referring to elected officials in the Capitol building.
Video footage shows that officers were unable to hold the police line and were forced to retreat to the terrace level of the Capitol building. Norris is alleged to have continued to advance toward the building and was one of the first rioters to reach the top of the East Central Stairs. Norris, along with other rioters, allegedly surrounded police officers near the Rotunda door and continued to rush towards the building. Norris can allegedly be heard yelling, “Push forward!,” and chanting, “USA!” Norris is accused of pushing into at least one officer’s shield.
Eventually, Norris is allegedly seen in video footage close to the Rotunda doors attempting to get inside the building. U.S. Capitol Police later deployed gas, and Norris, allegedly, and others retreated from the doors into the larger crowd.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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