Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 42
- Location
- Virginia
- Charges
- Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers and Aiding and Abetting (5 counts); Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Civil Disorder; 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; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Federal investigators believe Federico Klein, a former State Department aide, assaulted police officers with a riot shield and attempted to take items from officers in and around the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. According to court documents, Klein held top-secret security clearance at the time. In various body camera footage, Klein is allegedly seen fighting officers and trying to breach a police line to enter the Capitol. At one point, an officer sprayed a chemical irritant that forced Klein to move away. Investigators say Klein also incited the mob. Video footage allegedly shows Klein calling on the crowd behind him to send "fresh people" to help break through the police line multiple times. Other videos from that day also place Klein at a scene right outside the Capitol building where a police officer had been dragged into the crowd. As other officers tried to recover their colleague, they urged rioters to move. Klein is allegedly seen and heard responding, "No way." Klein worked on Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016 and started working at the State Department shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017, according to a financial disclosure report. A State Department spokesperson said Klein served as a special assistant in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. A former colleague told Politico he was later transferred to the office that handles Freedom of Information Act requests. Klein resigned from the State Department on Jan. 19, 2021. According to sentencing memos filed in court, Klein served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Case History
Klein pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Bench trial held from 7/14/2023 to 7/20/2023. Found Guilty on twelve charges. Sentenced on 11/3/2023 to 70 months incarceration; 24 Months of Supervised Release; Special Assessment of $870; Restitution of $2,000; Fine of $3,000. Klein 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.