Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 34
- Location
- Bristow, Virginia
- 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; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
On Jan. 6, 2021, Joshua Bustle and his wife attended the “Health Freedom Rally” in Washington, according to court documents. The two of them later walked into the U.S. Capitol building, carrying a sign that read: “VACCINE INJURY is the REAL PANDEMIC.” According to the FBI, Bustle’s wife posted multiple times on Facebook explaining in detail what the couple saw inside the Capitol and expressing their views on the election and the COVID-19 vaccine. She also allegedly called former Vice President Mike Pence “a traitor.” According to local media, Bustle works in real estate.
Case History
Bustle pleaded Guilty to: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in Capitol Buildings; the other charges were dismissed. Sentenced 8/4/2021 to 24 Months of Probation; 30 days of home confinement; and 40 hours of community service; Special Assessment of $10; and Restitution of $500. Bustle 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.