Thomas B. Adams Jr.

Case Summary

A day after the riots in Washington, D.C., an article titled “Men Who Joined in Violently Storming the U.S. Capitol Describe a Carnival Atmosphere Inside” published on the news site “Insider”. The author of the article, Abigail Higgins, interviewed Thomas Adams, who said he trampled over police barricades, entered the Capitol building and walked as far in as the Senate chamber. He also said he observed rioters smash a window ahead of him and make entry. “It was a really fun time,” he told her. According to court documents, agents interviewed Adams the following month at his home, where he told them he did not realize that he had illegally breached the building until he was walking on broken glass. He also told agents that once inside the building, he thought to himself, “What are they going to do if a half a million people are here and standing inside of a building and want to be heard?” Adams has been released on bond.

Case History

Adams pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Stipulated Bench trial held 1/30/2023.found Adams Guilty on 2 charges: Obstruction of an Official Proceeding; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 6/16/2023 to 14 months of incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; $2,000 restitution; $125 special assessment. On 9/9/2024, the USCA vacated the Obstruction conviction. Resentenced on 11/12/2024 to time served; 12 months supervised release; $25 special assessment; $500 restitution. Adams 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.