Federal Judge Says No Jamaican Vacation for Capitol Riot Suspect

A Michigan man facing charges for his alleged involvement in the January 6 riot won't be taking a trip to Jamaica after a federal judge swatted down the request on Thursday.

Anthony Robert Williams faces charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and disorderly conduct in a restricted building in connection with last year's January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

But that didn't stop Williams' attorney from requesting that he be allowed to take a trip to Jamaica to visit his girlfriend, with whom he's been in a romantic relationship for more than a year. According to his request, William intended to stay with his girlfriend's family in Negril, Jamaica, for 10 days beginning Jan. 31 and spend time working with a local nonprofit.

Williams' attorney, Benton C. Martin, argued in his filing that his client has shown up for court appearances and has no prior felony convictions.

But U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell was unpersuaded and issued a sharply worded order denying the request.

"Although such a meeting may be an important step in defendant's personal relationship, defendant surrendered his entitlement to unfettered international travel when, also 'more than a year' ago, on December 30, 2020, he allegedly announced his intent to 'Storm the Swamp,'" Howell wrote in her order. She added that he followed through with that intent by joining the mob at the Capitol, and in his words, "took [that] f*****g building."

Howell referenced a social media post where Williams called taking the Capitol the "proudest day of (his) life."

She further wrote that Williams faces a serious felony charge, and that the request came on the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol. Howell wrote she would not "commemorate" it by granting his "request for non-essential foreign travel when he is awaiting judgement for his actions on that day."

The FBI was earlier given a tip that Williams was involved in the riot, authorities said. The tip included information about Williams as well as videos and photos he posted to Facebook showing him in the Capitol building.

A resident of Southgate, Michigan, Williams has been on pretrial release after being charged in March of last year. Investigators dug up photos and videos Williams had posted to Facebook, as well as phone records showing his cellphone was in the building on January 6, according to an FBI affidavit.

The affidavit states that Williams snapped selfies in the building, posting them with a note: "Operation Swamp Storm Veteran now lol modern day tea party. Was proudest day of my life lol felt like the founding fathers were smiling down on us in that room and I guarantee my dad and gramps, both vets, would be proud."