- March 7, 2021
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Trump’s aide Federico Klein charged for assaulting officers at US Capitol
Listen to this articleA former aide of State Department in the former US President Donald Trump’s administration, Federico Klein has been charged with participating in the deadly siege at the Capitol and assaulting officers who were trying to guard the building. Point to be noted that it is the first known case to be brought against a Trump appointee in the 6th January insurrection, which initiated Trump’s historic 2nd impeachment. Klein also worked for Trump’s 2016 campaign. The charging documents said he was seen wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat during the storm of people in a tunnel trying to force their way into the Capitol on 6th January. Klein pushed his way toward the doors, where he physically and verbally engaged with officers trying to keep the mob back.
The documents said, “Klein was seen on camera violently shoving a riot shield into an officer and inciting the crowd as it tried to storm past the police line, shouting. We need fresh people, we need fresh people”. Klein pushed the riot shield (which had been stolen from an officer) as the mob struggled with police in the tunnel, in between the Capitol doors, preventing police from closing them. Moreover, an officer used the chemical spray, forcing Klein to move somewhere else. Klein was arrested Thursday in Virginia and faces charges including obstructing Congress and assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon. He was in custody on Friday and couldn’t be reached for comment. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
It is noteworthy that at least 5 people, including a Capitol Police officer, died as a result of the violence, and 2 other officers killed themselves after. More than 300 people have been charged with federal crimes. A financial disclosure report says Klein became a staff assistant in the State Department shortly after Trump’s inauguration in 2017. Klein worked in the Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs. He held a top-secret security clearance and it was renewed in 2019. The authorities said he resigned from his position just a day before Joe Biden was sworn in as president, on 19th January. The officials also confirmed that one of Klein’s State Department coworkers helped authorities identify him.
