Idaho man admits to assaulting Capitol Police officer with pipe on Jan. 6

An Idaho man admitted to assaulting a Capitol Police officer with a pipe during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors announced.

Duke Wilson, 67, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two felony charges in connection with the riot, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 22.

In a court document filed with his plea, prosecutors said Wilson traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the mob attack. He wore a dark jacket and a baseball cap that read “CNN” and “FAKE NEWS.”

Prosecutors said he made his way to the front line of rioters guarding doors in the Lower West Terrace tunnel area. As officers tried to close a set of double doors, he grabbed the door and tried to pull it open, authorities said.

Wilson then picked up what was believed to be a thin PVC pipe and struck at officers, hitting one of them. He then threw the object to the line of officers.

Authorities said Wilson also assisted other rioters in attempting to pull away a shield from another officer. They said he pushed that officer to the ground and then pushed against a third officer, along with other rioters.

Wilson was indicted on seven charges in connection with the riot, though he pleaded guilty to two — assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers as well as obstruction of an official proceeding. The other five charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Under the agreement, prosecutors said he could be sentenced to between 41 and 51 months in prison.

However, the DOJ said in its statement that the maximum Wilson faces in prison is 20 years for obstructing an official proceeding and eight years for assaulting law enforcement.

Of the 570 people who have been charged in connection with the riot, 170 have been charged with assaulting law enforcement.