Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 47
- Location
- Cheektowaga, New York
- 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; Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building or Grounds
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full
Case Summary
Federal prosecutors say Peter Harding spoke extensively on video about joining the Capitol rioting. "We did what we needed to do. We made our point … and we got out," Harding said, according to a government affidavit filed in court. Harding was also allegedly seen inside the Capitol yelling "America first!" during a video livestream by Anthime Gionet, also known as "Baked Alaska." At one point, prosecutors allege, Harding held a lighter to a pile of camera equipment outside the Capitol while people chanted, "CNN sucks." Harding spoke to The Buffalo News and confirmed that he had used the lighter but said, "That was a symbolic gesture. Nothing burned." One of Harding's attorneys, Jason DiPasquale, has said, "Mr. Harding believes that the evidence, as the case goes on, will bear out that his intention in being there was to protest peacefully and that his actions were peaceful in nature and not violent while in there."
Case History
Harding pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury Trial set for 5/6/2025. On 1/23/2025, the court ordered that the case is dismissed without 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.