Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 47
- Location
- Rocky Mount, Virginia
- Charges
- Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Tampering with a Document or a Proceeding (cell phone)
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
On Jan. 6, 2021, Thomas Robertson, an off-duty police officer in the Rocky Mount Police Department in Virginia, allegedly traveled to Washington, D.C., with a colleague. According to court documents, both men were photographed in the Capitol building “making an obscene gesture in front of the John Stark statue.” Gen. John Stark was a Revolutionary War leader. A U.S. Army spokesperson confirmed to NPR that Robertson served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Virginia Army National Guard from March 2006 until August 2009. He also deployed to Kuwait and Iraq from September 2007 until May 2008. Court documents also describe Robertson as saying on social media that “The right IN ONE DAY took the f***ing U.S. Capitol. Keep poking us.” He also said he is “proud” of the pictures he posted on Instagram and wrote on a Facebook post that he was “willing to put skin in the game.” The Rocky Mount Police Department terminated Robertson's employment, effective Jan. 26, 2021, according to an official statement.
Case History
Robertson pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. Jury Trial held 4/4/2022-4/11/2022 before Judge Christopher Cooper. Robertson found Guilty on all charges. Sentenced 8/11/2022 to 87 months incarceration; 36 months supervised release; $2,000 restitution; a special assessment of $510. On 5/28/2024, the US Court of Appeals ordered his sentence be vacated; and the case be remanded for the district court to resentence Robertson. Count 1, Obstruction, is dismissed by the court. Resentenced on 9/4/2024 to 72 months incarceration; 36 months supervised release; $410 special assessment; $2,000 restitution. Robertson 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.