Derek Nelson is seen near the Washington Monument and inside the U.S. Capitol (inset) on Jan. 6, 2021 (images via FBI court filing).
The tricorn hat-wearing former Marine dubbed “Conan O’Riot” captured in footage in and around the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection has admitted to his role in the chaos that day.
Derek Nelson, 30, of Illinois, “came to Washington, D.C., prepared for the possibility of violence,” according to the statement of offense. He pleaded guilty to trespassing, which carries up to a year in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for June 13.
Nelson, a former U.S. Marine, “wore a colonial blue peacoat with gold buttons, a tricorn hat, a red shirt, a white neck scarf, black-and-red gloves, and khaki pants” as thousands of Donald Trump supporters interrupted the certification of the 2020 Electoral College vote count and threatened the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 Presidential election, according to the court filing. He was dubbed “Conan O’Riot” because of his apparent resemblance to late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien.
As Law&Crime reported, he was with alleged co-defendant Derek Dodder of Las Vegas. When Nelson reached the Capitol, he appeared to have lost the hat and put on ski goggles. He was also pictured in the Rotunda with a “pink respirator mask” around his neck.
“Dodder and Nelson approached the U.S. Capitol building through the northwest scaffolding and Upper West Terrace and entered the building via the Senate Wing at approximately 2:16 p.m.,” the affidavit says. Dodder was pictured entering through a smashed-out window while Nelson went through a door, authorities said. The timing of their entry puts them among the first wave of rioters who breached the building three minutes earlier.
They first visited the Capitol crypt around 2:27 p.m. before being spotted in the Rotunda at 2:33 p.m. They left the building for a final time at around 3:04 p.m., the affidavit says.
Before going to the Capitol, Nelson and Dodder had agreed to give a recorded interview to “an unknown individual with a female voice” near the Washington Monument, court documents said.
“Gentlemen, why are you here today?” she asked, according to the affidavit.
“To start a revolution,” Nelson replied. “Why are you here?”
Dodder voluntarily came to the FBI Field Office in Las Vegas on July 1, 2021, court documents said. Dodder has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct. A status conference is set for April 5.
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