An individual from Ohio was apprehended on Tuesday, following allegations that he had brought a gigantic “Trump” sign to the U.S. Capitol and actively participated in violent actions against law enforcement during the riot that took place.
Jeffrey Newcomb, a 41-year-old resident of Polk, Ohio, is reported to have shared on social media that he transported the specifically designed, metal-framed sign to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, claiming, “because bullets are expensive,” as stated in an affidavit provided by an FBI agent. The sign measured roughly 8 feet in height and 10 feet in width, and it was equipped with wheels that were comparable in size to a person’s head.
A post linked to Newcomb’s Twitter account, which was active in March 2023, included images featuring the sign among the throngs of Donald Trump supporters who congregated outside the Capitol that day. One of the photos showed the user of the account concealing his identity with an emoji.
The post described his intention: “Went to Jan 6th to peacefully protest in the loudest way possible: With a 13 ft by 10 ft sign on a custom-made aluminum wagon. I spent $700 on this. Keeping my identity a secret because bullets are expensive.”
However, the account has since been removed, and several other individuals involved in the Capitol unrest have faced charges for using the large Trump sign as a battering ram against police officers while attempting to breach law enforcement barriers outside the Capitol.
As Newcomb was taken into custody in Polk, he was anticipated to make his initial court appearance on the same day in Ohio, although court documents did not disclose the name of his legal representation.
He faces felony charges, including assaulting police and obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, as detailed in a criminal complaint.
Footage captured during the event appears to show Newcomb maneuvering his large sign near Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6. Other participants in the riot assisted him in carrying the sign into the crowd at the Capitol’s West Plaza.
According to the FBI agent’s statements, “Rioters cheered the sign’s arrival, and many in the crowd helped pass the sign closer and closer to the police line.”
Just before others in the crowd pushed the sign into the officers, Newcomb released it but allegedly continued to apply pressure on the backs of the rioters who persisted in pushing the large sign toward the law enforcement personnel.
The FBI noted, “As the police were struck by the sign, they easily could have been knocked over due to the frame’s sheer size, and the sharp edges and corners were readily capable of causing slicing or splitting injuries.” Ultimately, it took more than a dozen officers to remove the sign entirely from the line of police.
To date, over 1,500 individuals have faced federal charges related to the Capitol riot. Approximately 1,200 have entered guilty pleas or have been found guilty after their cases went to trial, and over 1,000 of those defendants have received sentences, with around two-thirds facing imprisonment ranging from mere days to 22 years.