Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 34
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Two weeks after Jan. 6, 2021, a tipster called the FBI to say that Russell Peterson's mother, Shelly Peterson, had posted on Facebook that her son had stormed the Capitol and "sat in Pelosi's chair," according to court documents. Russell Peterson also livestreamed at least two videos from inside the building, prosecutors allege. He was arrested Feb. 12, 2021, in western Pennsylvania.
Case History
Peterson pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges were dismissed. Sentenced 12/1/2021 to 30 days incarceration; Special Assessment of $10; Restitution of $500. Peterson 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.