Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 32
- Location
- Sandpoint, Idaho
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building and Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building and Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Michael Anthony Pope met his brother William Pope the day before the U.S. Capitol riot in Philadelphia. They were planning to camp at several parks along the Atlantic Seaboard before returning home, according to the FBI. The criminal complaint says surveillance footage shows the brothers in various areas of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It also states that Michael Pope entered an elevator and refused police requests to leave at one point. William Pope later told FBI agents that they canceled their vacation plans after seeing the gravity of the Jan. 6 riots. They instead drove to Pittsburgh through West Virginia so Michael could catch a flight back to Idaho. Michael Pope was arrested Feb. 12 in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Case History
Pope pleaded Guilty to two charges: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building and Grounds and Parading Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The court dismissed the Obstruction charge on 10/24/2024. Bench Trial verdict on 10/24/2024 finds him Guilty on remaining three charges: Civil Disorder, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; and Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building. Sentencing is set for 4/23/2025. On 1/21/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice
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.