A freelance photographer and local government official from Illinois has been taken into custody, facing allegations of participating in the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol and confronting police officers, as disclosed in newly unsealed court documents.
Patrick Gorski, 27, was apprehended in Chicago on Thursday, with charges that include obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, a felony charge. Following his initial court hearing, a federal judge allowed him to be released on bond.
Gorski did not provide an immediate response to an email inquiry requesting a statement. His attorney, who represented him post-arrest, opted not to comment on the case.
According to authorities, Gorski played an active role during the January 6 attack, climbing scaffolding and advancing past police lines while documenting the scene with photos and videos. He reportedly yelled at police officers, pressed against one officer’s riot shield, and was ultimately driven away after being subjected to a chemical irritant spray.
During an interview with the FBI, Gorski allegedly did not assert that he was acting as a photojournalist on that day and mentioned that he did not carry his professional camera to the Capitol. He claimed prior experience as a photographer for the Chicago Fire Department and as part of Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign team.
The FBI has stated that there are no professionally published images of the Capitol riot attributed to Gorski. An affidavit from an FBI agent notes that several of Gorski’s sports photographs are available through Getty Images and have been utilized by various news organizations, including The Associated Press and USA Today. Despite this, authorities have indicated that Gorski has not published any political images within the last five years, continuing instead to photograph local sports events in Chicago.
It is important to note that Gorski is not affiliated with the Associated Press in any capacity and has never been an employee of the organization, as clarified by Lauren Easton, the AP’s vice president of corporate communications. Easton confirmed that while some of Gorski’s photographs have been shared with AP’s partners and member news organizations, he is not a recognized journalist within the AP.
Gorski’s resume details his role as a building commissioner for the Village of Norridge, Illinois, and notes his recent graduation from Southeastern Illinois University with a master’s degree in public administration.
On January 6, he attended then-President Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House, later marching towards the Capitol alongside individuals like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Owen Shroyer from the Infowars network.
Once at the Capitol, Gorski allegedly climbed onto a wall, assisted another rioter, and removed a tarp from scaffolding. He reportedly engaged with law enforcement by yelling and urging others to break through police lines. As the mob advanced, Gorski displayed a flag from a balcony’s edge.
He utilized his phone to capture images and video inside a guarded tunnel, shouting at law enforcement, “This is our house!” while pushing against a police riot shield. The affidavit states he eventually gained entry into the Capitol through the Senate Wing door, continuing his documentation inside the building. Gorski was forcibly removed from a doorway by police and ultimately distanced himself after being sprayed with a chemical irritant.
About a year following the riot, a tip led the FBI to discover that Gorski shared images of the event in a group chat with friends. To date, more than 1,500 individuals have faced federal charges connected to the Capitol riot.