Thomas Webster, Ex-Policeman, Brought NYPD Bulletproof Vest to Capitol Riot: Prosecutors

Alleged Capitol rioter Thomas Webster, a former Marine and retired New York Police Department officer, allegedly brought a bulletproof vest issued by the NYPD to the January 6 insurrection.

Video of Webster, 54, was released by the Justice Department earlier this month and shows him using a flagpole to fight with police officers trying to control a mob of Donald Trump supporters. The clip showed Webster hitting at least one police officer with the flagpole before throwing him to the ground.

Federal prosecutors said Friday that Webster brought his NYPD-issued bulletproof vest, a revolver and "meals ready to eat" when he came to Washington, D.C., for the protest in January. Although prosecutors said that the former NYPD officer could have "easily concealed" the firearm "under his jacket," Webster said he left the gun in his hotel room, NBC Washington journalist Scott MacFarlane reported. The prosecutors want Webster jailed for his actions.

Webster turned himself in to the FBI in February. CNN previously reported that he retired from the NYPD back in 2011. He had worked as part of the security detail at City Hall as well as at the mayor's residence. The former police officer now faces seven charges, including unlawfully entering the Capitol, assaulting police and engaging in physical violence.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin Gianforti said in February that Webster had "a look of pure rage" as he wielded the flagpole in the video clip. "His teeth are gritted. This is a man about to unleash some kind of violence," the prosecutor said.

Webster's attorney argued in February that his actions were in response to being physically assaulted by a police officer. Prosecutors have said the video footage they have does not support that claim.

At least 12 of those arrested in connection with the Capitol riot were either former law enforcement officers or were employed as police at the time of the insurrection, CBS News reported. In total, some 500 people have been arrested in connection with the assault on the Capitol, but prosecutors continue to search for hundreds more.

Those who attacked the Capitol were inspired to do so based on Trump's and his allies' false claims about the 2020 election. The former president continues to promote the baseless conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was "rigged" or "stolen" by President Joe Biden and the Democrats. These allegations have been thoroughly litigated and wholly debunked.

Ahead of the insurrection, Trump urged his supporters near the White House to march to the Capitol and "fight like hell" to overturn the election results. The former president was later impeached by the House of Representatives for inciting the riot, with 10 Republicans voting alongside their Democratic colleagues in support of the impeachment.

Trump was then acquitted by the Senate, but seven Republicans voted in favor of his conviction along with all 50 members of the chamber's Democratic Caucus. At least 67 senators would have been required to vote for conviction in order for it to succeed under the process laid out in the Constitution.

Newsweek reached out to the Justice Department for further comment but did not hear back before publication.