Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 26
- Location
- Clarksburg, Maryland
- Charges
- Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Unlawful Possession of a Dangerous Weapon on Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Disorderly Conduct on Grounds or in a Capitol Building; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings (Federal); Assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer (DC)
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
David Blair allegedly struck a Metropolitan Police Department officer with a lacrosse stick on the evening of Jan. 6, 2021, on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building. Before he did so, he allegedly told officers to "quit being scared." When one officer pushed Blair with his baton, Blair said "what's up, motherf***er, what's up, what's up, b****?" according to footage from a body camera on the officer. According to court documents, Blair then thrust the lacrosse stick, which had a Confederate flag taped to it, at the officer's chest. Once handcuffed, Blair said, "I understand, what I did, the one motherf***er swung at me so I kinda switched ... so I apologize. We're done though." Blair also explained that he had a knife on him because he was "worried about Antifa and other people trying to jump me," according to court documents. Law enforcement later searched Blair's home and found a notebook with notes that seemed to be about Jan. 6 in it, including a note that simply said "Wasn't there for violence / or to overthrow." Blair is currently charged with a misdemeanor in D.C. Superior Court, but the federal government intends to dismiss that case in favor of federal charges, according to a criminal complaint.
Case History
Blair pleaded Guilty to one federal charge: Civil Disorder. The other charges are dismissed. His DC charge was disposed of by nolle prosequi on March 11, 2021. Sentenced 7/13/2022 to 5 months incarceration; 18 months of supervised release; $100 special assessment; $2,000 restitution. Blair 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.