Former Capitol cop who messaged Jan. 6 rioter guilty in obstruction case
Michael Riley told jurors he was "embarrassed" that he had messaged a Jan. 6 rioter on Facebook, warning them about a post that said they went into the Capitol building.
Oct. 28, 2022, 1:25 PM CDT / Updated Oct. 28, 2022, 2:09 PM CDT
By Ryan J. Reilly and Daniel Barnes
WASHINGTON — A former Capitol Police officer who warned a Jan. 6 defendant about a post that said he was inside the Capitol building was found guilty on one count of felony obstruction of justice by a jury on Friday.
Michael Riley was indicted in October 2021 on two counts of obstruction of justice and resigned from the Capitol Police force shortly thereafter. At his trial this month, federal prosecutors argued that Riley "betrayed" his oath by sending Jan. 6 defendant Jacob Hiles a Facebook message, warning that the FBI and law enforcement were planning to charge everyone who entered the building.
“I'm a capitol police officer who agrees with your political stance,” Riley wrote in a message he later deleted after Hiles’ arrest. “Take down the part about being in the building they are correctly investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out!”
The jury was not able to reach a verdict on the first count, which related to the message he sent to the rioter. But they did find him guilty of a second count for deleting his messages with Hiles after he found out Hiles had been talking to the FBI.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/former-capitol-cop-messaged-jan-6-rioter-guilty-obstruction-case-rcna53904
