Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 37
- Location
- Boca Raton, Florida
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Impeding Passage through the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Richard Cook was allegedly part of one of the most brutal encounters between rioters and police on Jan. 6, 2021: that of the rioters who tried to enter the U.S. Capitol through a lower tunnel, yelling "Heave Ho!" and "Push!" as they crunched officers between themselves and the building. According to court documents, one officer "could be heard screaming in agonizing pain as he was smashed between a shield and a metal door frame." Cook can allegedly be seen in building surveillance video actively participating in the efforts. Court documents indicate he was identified in part due to the help of the Sedition Hunters, an online community trying to identify people who took part in the Jan. 6 riot.
Case History
Cook pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Found Guilty in a Jury trial on 5/10/2024 on all charges. Sentenced on 8/28/2024 to 18 months incarceration with credit for time served; 36 months of supervised release; $2,000 in restitution; special assessment of $195. Cook 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.