NC man charged in Capitol riot played hide-and-seek with feds until he gave himself up
On his LinkedIn professional networking page, Brad Bennett offered coaching in several personal-improvement classes, including: “How to Think & Act like a truly Free Person.”
This spring, the Huntersville resident did not follow his own guidance. Instead, according to federal prosecutors, Bennett thought and acted like a man on the run from the FBI.
Which he was.
... He now faces six charges — a felony and five misdemeanors — all tied to the Jan. 6 violence. That day, hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump, fueled by baseless claims of a stolen election, stormed the Capitol to stop congressional certification of Trump’s defeat to now-President Joe Biden. To date, more than 400 arrests have been made.
Bennett’s most serious charge — obstructing a government proceeding — carries up to a 20-year sentence. If convicted, according to court documents, he faces at least 3 1/2 years in prison.
In an email to the (Charlotte) Observer this week, Bennett’s attorney, Albert Watkins of St. Louis, said his client, like many others, was swept up in Trump’s lies about widespread voting fraud. A court filing this week indicates that Bennett may argue at his trial that he was only following Trump’s orders when he breached the Capitol....
“FAIR WARNING,” Bennett said in a new caption for his Facebook profile photograph posted in the days leading up to the D.C. rally, according to documents. “IF THIS ELECTION IS STOLEN FOR BIDEN ... PATRIOTS WILL GO TO WAR.”
On Jan. 6, video and photographs from Bennett’s own social media pages place him and his then-girlfriend and current co-defendant, Elizabeth Williams of Kerrville, Texas, at various locations inside the Capitol, including the Senate chamber.
Prosecutors say Bennett climbed some scaffolding to get inside the building. According to court filings, he and Williams left after about 10 minutes.
“TODAY WAS A REVOLUTIONARY MESSAGE,” Bennett boasted afterward online. “WE WON’T GO AWAY. WE WILL FIND VICTORY.”
Did ex-NC judge help ignite ‘human bomb’ at Capitol? Critics say he should be punished
Any victory for Bennett and like-minded Trump supporters was short-lived. The House and Senate reconvened that night to certify Biden’s win....