Thomas F. Sibick

Case Summary

According to court documents, Thomas Sibick posted a video to his Instagram account on Jan. 6, 2021, from the inauguration ceremony stage, where he yelled: "Just got tear-gassed, but we’re going, baby, we’re going! We’re pushing forward now!” Later, Sibick is seen on security footage moving to the opening of a tunnel that leads inside the U.S. Capitol building, but then retreating. On Jan. 27, 2021, Sibick was interviewed by FBI agents and told them that he had decided to leave because of the violence he had seen, including rioters beating and trying to get the gun of a Metropolitan Police officer, later identified as Officer Mike Fanone, who was hospitalized for his injuries. On body camera footage, however, Sibick is seen ripping off Fanone's badge and radio. Sibick told agents that he had been trying to pull Fanone to safety and subsequently dropped the badge and radio, but later admitted to pocketing the badge, which he buried in his yard and later dug up to give to the FBI. Sibick maintained he was not involved in the assault and had been trying to help, but a federal judge referred to his behavior as "lawless" and "egregious," according to news reports.

Case History

Sibick pleaded Guilty to three charges: Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers; and two counts of Theft. Sentenced on 7/28/2023 to 50 months incarceration; 36 months supervised release; Restitution of $7,500.79; special assessment of $225. Sibick 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.