Josiah Colt, Who Swung From Senate Balcony On Jan. 6, He Pleads Guilty In Insurrection Probe

Josiah Colt, 34, was photographed swinging from a balcony inside the Senate chamber on January 6. Now, he has pleaded guilty to one felony charge of obstruction.

He is believed to have co-conspired with two other riot suspects, Ronald Sandlin and Nathan DeGrave. Both of whom have been charged separately, and they have since pleaded not guilty.

Because Colt cooperated with prosecutors, he will only be sentenced to four to five years in prison. He will also still need to pay a fine of anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 as well as $1,000 in restitution. Usually, for crimes of this nature, in which one influences, impedes or obstructs an official proceeding, the sentence is 20 years and the fine is $250,000.

Josiah Colt, who rappelled into the Senate chamber (which he thought was the House chamber) pleaded guilty on Wednesday as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. @_Jahan: https://t.co/cgZaQr0mKP

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) July 14, 2021

While Colt was not charged with carrying weapons at the Capitol riot, government filings say that he did drive to D.C. with a cache of weapons and ammunition.

Colt eventually admitted that he traveled from Tennessee to D.C. with Sandlin and DeGrave in January. Then, they brought with them a large range of gear, which included a Glock 43 pistol, a handheld taser stun gun, body armor and a gas mask. He did not, however, bring a gun pistol with him on January 6. Instead, he brought it to a separate rally the day before.

On the day of the riot, Colt and his two other co-conspirators entered the U.S. Capitol to overturn the Electoral College’s certification of election results. Colt told his crew: “Let’s get to the Senate, bro.”

He went on to sit at the head of the chamber, a seat which he claimed was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s, but was, in fact, reserved then-Vice President Mike Pence.

In the hearing on Wednesday, there was also a reference made to a social media post, in which Colt is pictured lying on a bed in a Tennessee hotel and holding a gun. He was supposedly sleeping and ready for the “boogaloo” on January 6. The “boogaloo” is a reference to the second civil war.

Sixteen Capitol riot defendants have now accepted plea deals in the case. Four defendants agreed to plead guilty to felony charges.

The date for Colt’s sentencing has not been set yet. There will be a status hearing on October 18 to determine the extent to which Colt has cooperated.