Capitol Police officer accused of helping January 6 rioter cover up evidence

Capitol Police Officer Michael Riley, a 25-year veteran of the Capitol Police force, was indicted today for obstruction of justice. Feds say he exchanged dozens of messages warning a January 6th rioter to delete photos of himself at the Capitol from Facebook. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi

A U.S. Capitol police officer was arrested Friday for obstruction of justice charges related to communications with another man later criminally charged for participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by Trump supporters.

The cop, Michael Riley, allegedly deleted Facebook messages to and from that person a day after the other person was arrested on Jan. 19, and previously had urged the man to delete information from that own man’s Facebook page which showed him inside the Capitol during the invasion, according to a charging document.

The deletions occurred after the other man told Riley that “they took my phone and downloaded everything” and that the FBI “was very curious” about the duo’s communications on the heels of the riot, the document says.

Riley, who has served with the Capitol Police for nearly 25 years, appeared later Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, where he is charged with two counts of obstruction, each of which has a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison if he is convicted.

A judge allowed Riley to remain free without bail on the condition that he does not possess any weapons. The cop, who did not enter a plea, also was barred from having contact with a certain group of individuals, who were not identified publicly by prosecutors.

A Capitol Police spokesman said that Riley, who most recently worked as a K-9 technician, has been placed on administrative leave pending the resolution of his criminal case.

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger in a statement, said, “Obstruction of Justice is a very serious allegation.”

“The Department was notified about this investigation several weeks ago. Upon his arrest, the officer was placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the case,” Manger said. “The USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility will then open an administrative investigation.”

A grand jury indictment against Riley says that the other man on Jan. 1 accepted a Facebook friend request from the police officer.

NBC News, citing law enforcement officials, reported that the other man is Jacob Hiles, a Virginia fishing charter boat operator who pleaded guilty last month to illegally parading in the Capitol.

That man and Riley “did not know each other, but both were avid fisherman and members of fishing-related Facebook groups,” the indictment says.

Five days later, on Jan. 6, a mob of backers of then-President Donald Trump invaded the Capitol complex, disrupting the ongoing confirmation of President Joe Biden’s election by a joint session of Congress. Among the rioters who illegally entered the Capitol was the man who had accepted Riley’s friend request, the indictment says.

Riley was not on duty inside the Capitol building that day but did respond to reports of an explosive device found near the complex that day, according to the indictment.

Five people died in connection with the riot, including a Capitol police officer, Brian Sicknick, who died on Jan. 7.

On Jan. 7, Riley contacted the other man via a Facebook direct message after that other person posted selfie photos, videos and commentary on Facebook revealing “his presence and conduct inside the U.S. Capitol” the prior day.

Riley, who had never communicated directly with the man previously, wrote, “Hey ... im a capitol police officer who agrees with your political stance,” the indictment says.
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