A 23-year-old California man who climbed a rope at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and carried a “Black Voices for Trump” flag is facing charges in connection with his role in the incident, according to police.
A news release charges Joshua Kaleb Youngerman with trespassing and disorderly behavior, including stepping or climbing on an architectural element on Capitol grounds.
He allegedly used Telegram to communicate with “The DC Brigade,” an organization formed to “serve as the communications for able-bodied individuals,” and planned to fly to Washington on January 6, 2021.
“Many of us have never met before, but we are all ready and willing to participate in this fight,” the group’s “About” section wrote, according to investigators. “We will unite at this critical juncture.”
Authorities said that Youngerman used his Twitter account, @fakejoshuayoung, suspended shortly after January 6, to propagate former President Donald Trump’s falsehoods about a stolen election. According to court documents, he allegedly called for an “audit” of the 2020 presidential election results and supported the “#StopTheSteal” campaign.
“There is definitely election fraud going on,” Youngerman allegedly stated in a post on November 4, 2020.
He reportedly wrote, “#StopTheSteal #StopTheSteal2020 #FightBack,” in another message.
On December 17, 2020, in reaction to a post about a Supreme Court ruling affecting the 2020 election results, Youngerman wrote, “Then I guess us Patriots will just riot.” Demonstrate the consequences of their actions.
Federal authorities claim he arranged his travel to Washington with other Trump supporters on Telegram, allegedly identifying himself as having “no police nor military experience,” but “had to throw hands on multiple occasions and have a little bit of MMA training.”
He also promised to be armed, according to court filings.
“I’ll be bringing a couple knives and whatever other self-defense tools I can get my hands on,” he was quoted as saying.
Wearing a red cap, gray jacket, red undershirt, camouflage pants, and carrying a black and white flag that read “Black Voices for Trump,” he was caught on a closed-circuit camera climbing a rope up a wall leading to a stairwell on the northwest side of the Capitol, according to court filings. The film purportedly captured him entering the Capitol building at 2:37 p.m. and leaving two minutes later.
According to court records, Youngerman used social media to share his experiences at the Capitol.
“I am fully supportive of storming and occupying the capital from the inside and out,” he allegedly stated in a post. “That was the original intention for many. “We came to reclaim our house.”
A young man was detained in July of last year.
A statement of facts summarizing the case states that on June 28, 2021, Youngerman told FBI agents at a field office in San Diego that the owner of the “DC Brigade” group, whom he met at a local rally, invited him to various Telegram groups.
He claimed that the groups discussed travel, gatherings, handheld radios, and protester safety from counterprotesters. He also denied entering the Capitol building, according to court filings.
Authorities have charged more than 1,387 people in connection with the Capitol breach in the 39 months since January 6, 2021.
