Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 57
- Location
- Edgewater, Florida
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct on Grounds or in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Howard Adams was identified by a tipster after he was spotted in a TV news segment running into the Capitol building, according to court documents. Adams’ alleged presence in the Capitol was also confirmed through Capitol Police cameras located inside the building, said the FBI. In the surveillance footage, Adams can be seen walking inside the Capitol Rotunda carrying a flagpole with a U.S. flag attached to it. Adams can also be seen confronting officers and pushing through a police line, according to an FBI affidavit. In one instance, a group of police officers try to get the rioters to leave the rotunda. Instead of complying, Adams can apprarently be seen raising his flag and moving toward the officers, until he is directly in front of one. In a statement he gave to the FBI, Adams said he was just “standing there” when he was pepper-sprayed in his eyes, even though video evidence indicates he intentionally moved toward the officers moments before, according to court documents.
Case History
Adams pleaded Guilty to one charge: Civil Disorder. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 4/13/2023 to 8 months incarceration with credit for time served in pretrial detention; 36 months of supervised release; $100 special assessment; a fine of $2,000; restitution of $2,000. Adams 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.