Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 32
- Location
- Hindsville, Arkansas
- Charges
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in any of the Capitol Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
A tipster who served in the military with Brennen Machacek sent law enforcement a publicly available video filmed at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, along with screenshots of Facebook comments that Machacek allegedly posted under a pseudonym, according to an FBI statement of facts. “I didn’t know all that craziness happened till later that night up on the 4th floor, cops were letting people use the restroom right there,” the post reportedly reads. The FBI claims surveillance footage shows Machacek climbing through a window and wandering through the Senate Wing of the Capitol. He was then escorted out the Memorial Door along with other protestors in the video submitted by the tipster, the FBI statement claims. Machacek was arrested Dec. 19, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. According to sentencing memos filed in court, Machacek served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Case History
Machacek pleaded Guilty to the charge. Sentenced on 9/7/2023 to 12 months probation; $10 special assessment; $500 restitution; 30 hours of community service. Machacek received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.