A New York man has been arrested for his alleged role in the deadly invasion of the U.S. Capitol, after posting an image of the mob on Instagram with the words “This is me” and a pointed emoji superimposed, according to authorities.
Edward Jacob Lang was arrested Saturday at his home in Newburgh, according to the FBI and the Mid-Hudson news network.
He faces charges of assault, resistance or impediment to certain officers or employees, civil unrest, access to a restricted building or land, and violent entry or disorderly conduct, according to federal authorities.
Lang would allegedly be among the crowds of President Trump supporters who besieged the Capitol on Jan. 6 in an attempt to delay Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s election victory, an invasion that killed five people, including a U.S. Capitol police officer.
Instead of trying to cover up his clues, Lang documented his alleged involvement and consequences on both his Instagram and Facebook pages, according to an affidavit filed Friday by the FBI in support of an arrest warrant.
An image posted on Lang’s Instagram story shows a pile of riot gear at the Capitol entrance, superimposed with the capital words “THIS IS ME” and a one-handed emoji with the index finger pointing, according to the documentation .
Another post on Lang’s Facebook page, which, like his Instagram account, was inactive as of Sunday, includes a long message stating that he witnessed the death of a woman and that he be shot during the revolt, according to authorities.
“I saw a woman die before my eyes yesterday. I saved 2 more people from being trampled and drowned by the Capitol police, ”he allegedly wrote. “I was shot with a lethal wheel in the foot [sic] it shattered various places, points on my skull, deep cuts all over my body, for freedom and liberty and to defend the American Constitution. “
Lang’s own posts on social media were not the only ones that put him in riot, according to authorities.
Video footage of “a seemingly consistent individual with Lang” shows the man attacking police officers outside the Capitol with a baseball bat, officials report.
And a video posted to an unspecified Twitter account captures a man identified by authorities as Lang discussing the next steps with an unidentified woman.
“So what do you think happens next?” the woman asks, according to court statements.
“Guns. That’s it, “replied the man identified as Lang.” The first amendment did not work, we removed the second. “
It was not immediately clear whether Lang had kept a legal adviser while awaiting a first court appearance.
Several New Yorkers have been among the dozens arrested in connection with the riot, including an MTA employee who called sick to work to travel to Washington, DC and a former U.S. sailor who lit a “victory” cigar. inside the Capitol.
Many of those arrested have been intervened by a mountain of incriminating images obtained by the FBI.