A Wichita man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6th, 2021.
38-year-old Michael Eckerman entered the plea in the District of Columbia to a charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers. He will be sentenced on February 14th and he faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison.
Prosecutors said Eckerman illegally entered the Capitol grounds and saw rioters fighting with police officers outside the Capitol building. He yelled at officers that they were “traitors to the country,” then he and others walked through scaffolding and up a set of steps leading to the Upper West Terrace. He entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing doors and joined a crowd in pushing forward to breach a police line. Eckerman and others then surged forward and moved toward the east side of the Capitol.
Prosecutors said the group encountered another small group of officers who were trying to block access to stairs leading to Statuary Hall and the area near the Speaker’s Lobby. Eckerman pushed his way to the front of the standoff and again pushed through the line of officers. He came face to face with a Capitol police officer who put his hand on Eckerman’s shoulder. He then moved forward with others in the mob, causing the officer to stumble down some steps.
Eckerman moved through the building and at one point entered the Rayburn Conference room. He left the building a short time later, and he was arrested on September 20th, 2021.
