Karol J. Chwiesiuk

Case Summary

Chicago police officer Karol Chwiesiuk stormed the U.S. Capitol wearing a hoodie emblazoned with a Chicago police emblem, court documents indicate. Using location records obtained from Google and from the officer's phone service provider, the FBI reportedly found that Chwiesiuk left Chicago on Jan. 4, 2021, arrived in Washington, D.C., stayed at the Mayflower Hotel, and was inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The FBI also reviewed Chwiesiuk's text messages. According to court documents, Chwiesiuk sent messages on Jan. 3, 2021, saying that he was going to Washington to "save the nation" and that he was planning to "f*** up some commies." On Jan. 6, 2021, he allegedly sent other messages in which he wrote "we inside the capital lmfao," used a racial slur and sent a selfie of himself inside the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. Chwiesiuk has been "relieved of his police powers and is currently assigned to routine administrative duties" pending the outcome of an internal investigation, according to a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department.

Case History

Chwiesiuk pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. A jury trial on 8/11/2023 found him Guilty on four charges, Not Guilty on one charge: Entering and Remaining in a Room Designated for the Use of a Member of Congress. Sentenced on 1/24/2024 to 3 Years probation, to include 90 Days of home detention and location monitoring; Special assessment of $70; Restitution of $500; 200 hours of community service. Chwiesiuk 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.