Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 55
- Location
- Emmitsburg, Maryland
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Christopher Price would only discuss his presence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in hypothetical terms with the FBI, court documents show. But after an anonymous tip, the FBI was able to construct a trail of records and video that reportedly show Price, along with his wife, Cynthia Ballenger, who is also charged, traveling to Washington, D.C., and entering the Capitol building. Investigators say Facebook records show Price posted about traveling to Union Station in Washington. Someone replied to the post, asking if Price had received “a free tour of the Capitol building today?" Price reportedly replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Facebook records led to an email belonging to Price, which in turn led to a phone number, the FBI says. A search warrant to Google showed a device associated with Price’s email in or near the Capitol, the FBI says. Bank records for Price and Ballenger’s joint credit card show charges the FBI believes to be consistent with the couple traveling by Metro to Union Station. The FBI also says Price can be seen in surveillance footage from inside the Capitol and the restricted grounds outside. Price was likely inside the Capitol building for seven minutes, court records indicate. Phone records showed Price receiving a call from a friend with whom he co-owned a business, investigators say. That friend allegedly showed the FBI texts from Price that included “Worth fighting for Trump” and pictures of people inside the Capitol, according to court documents. The FBI says while Price wouldn’t talk about specifics, he said whatever the consequences of Jan. 6, 2021, “it was all in God’s hands now.”
Case History
Price pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Found Guilty on all charges in a Bench trial held 3/21/2023. Sentenced on 9/29/2023 to 45 days incarceration; 9 months Supervised Release; Special Assessments totaling $70; Restitution of $500. Price 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.