Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 37
- Location
- Portland, Maine
- 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 or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Buidling
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
According to court documents, Michael Gerard Fournier was captured on open-source video outside the doors of the Capitol Rotunda around 3 pm on Jan. 6, 2021, in a red bucket hat and sunglasses, chanting "It's our house." A few minutes later, Fournier entered the building with what appeared to be a canned beverage in his hand. At one point he picked up a painting that had been removed from a wall before discarding it again. He exited the building around 3:11 pm, having been inside for a little less than ten minutes. According to a sentencing memo filed in court, Fournier served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2010. He was arrested on Jan. 22, 2024.
Case History
Fournier pleaded Guilty to two charges: Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Buidling. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 8/1/2024 to 30 days incarceration; 12 months of Probation; Special Assessment of $20; Restitution of $500; 100 hours of community service. Fournier 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.