Trevor F. Cain

Case Summary

Starting the day after the U.S. Capitol riot, the FBI began receiving tips that Trevor Cain was inside the building that day, federal court records indicate. The FBI then served a search warrant to AT&T, which allegedly showed Cain's cell phone as being inside the Capitol that day. In an interview with federal authorities a month after the riot, Cain admitted to entering the Capitol and said he regretted the decision, court records state. In a video obtained from Cain's phone, Cain can allegedly be heard leading a mob inside the Capitol in a call-and-response style chant, saying: “Who do they work for? Us!” and singing part of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. In another video from his phone while still in the building, he allegedly states: "This is how history is made. Artisans, woodworkers, laborers, people of all stripes saying this is it ...This is what 1776 was all about ... Welcome to history, ladies and gentlemen, Jan. 6, 2021, when we took our country back." In an interview from the Capitol steps that was posted on YouTube, Cain says: "This is what the founders had in mind. When s*** gets out of control and commies are trying to take your country over, this is what you do. Peacefully. And yeah, there’s a couple of windows broken to get in but sometimes you gotta get ... break a window to get back into your own house.”

Case History

Cain pleaded Guilty to two charges: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in any of the Capitol Buildings. Sentencing is reset for 1/31/2025. On 1/21/2025, the court grants the government’s motion to dismiss the case with prejudice

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.