Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 34
- Location
- Auburn, California
- Charges
- Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers, Aiding and Abetting; Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts); Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Sean Michael McHugh flew from Sacramento, Calif., to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, according to records obtained by the FBI from the travel company Expedia. He stayed at the Yotel in D.C., hotel records obtained by the FBI indicate, and returned to Sacramento on Jan. 7, 2021. According to court documents, McHugh is seen in videos and body camera footage from the Jan. 6, 2021 riot yelling at police officers through a megaphone, including yelling, “You guys like protecting pedophiles?”; “You’re protecting communists!”; and “I’d be shaking in your little s*** boots too." McHugh is allegedly seen and heard in the videos encouraging the rioters, pushing a large metal sign into police officers and shooting officers with a "yellow spray."
Case History
McHugh pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Stipulated Bench Trial held on 4/17/2023 found McHugh Guilty on two charges: Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 9/7/2023 to 78 months incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; $2,000 restitution; $5,000 fine: $200 special assessment. McHugh 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.