Federico G. Klein, a former mid-level aide at the State Department, is the first member of the Trump administration to face criminal charges in connection with the January 6 storming of the capital.
Klein was arrested by the FBI in Virginia for charges including unlawful entry, violent and disorderly conduct, obstructing Congress and law enforcement, and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, Samantha Shero, a spokesperson for the Bureau's Washington Field Office, confirmed Thursday.
“Klein quickly pushed his way to the front-left side of the crowd and to the doorway to the Capitol building, where he physically and verbally engaged with the officers holding the line.”
– F.B.I
In videos, Klein is seen wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap while assaulting officers with a stolen riot shield. According to a court document filed by the FBI, Klein was still employed by the State Department and possessed a Top Secret security clearance at the time of the alleged offense.
The affidavit says video from police body-worn cameras on Jan. 6 shows Klein jamming a riot shield into doors at the Capitol as police were trying to secure them to keep the mob out. Klein was also heard on video trying to encourage others to clash with the police, the complaint says.
"We need fresh people, we need fresh people,” Klein shouted repeatedly, according to the complaint.
(Josh Gerstein.“Trump appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot.” Politico. March 04, 2021.)
Klein graduated from George Mason University in 2002. Around that time, an individual with the same name is recorded as interning on Capitol Hill for former Sen. George Allen (R-VA) and working briefly for the House Small Business Committee.
According to the Marine Corps, Klein served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from January 2004 to November 2012. He left the service as a corporal and his specialty was combat engineering. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to September in 2005. His units received several awards for service, including for the Global War on Terrorism.
(Kevin Johnson, Deirdre Shesgreen and Tom Vanden Brook. “Trump appointee to State Dept. Federico Klein arrested in Capitol attack; stunned mom says he was 'Boy Scout type.'” USA TODAY. March 05, 2021.)
According to his deleted LinkedIn page, Klein held Top Secret clearance, issued by the Defense Department, from 2014 to 2019. This was later renewed according to court documents.
Before joining the 2016 Trump campaign, Klein served as a Republican state convention delegate and worked for the pro-life, pro-marriage Family Research Council as a researcher. (A spokesman for the council said Klein was not an employee, but did unpaid volunteer work for them in 2015.)
(Josh Gerstein.“Trump appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot.” Politico. March 04, 2021.)
Klein became a staff assistant in the State Department shortly after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, according to a financial disclosure report.
At the time of the Jan. 6 siege, according to court documents, Klein held a top secret security clearance at the State Department where he served in the Office of Brazilian and South Cone Affairs, responsible for managing U.S. relations with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay and backstopping the U.S. Embassies in these countries. He resigned from his position on Jan. 19, the day before Joe Biden was sworn in as president and nearly two weeks after the attack, according to authorities.
(Oscar Quine. “Who is Federico Klein? Trump State Department Appointee Arrested Over Capitol Riot.” Newsweek. March 05, 2021.)
In an interview with The Washington Post, Klein's mother said that her son alleged had been at a mall during the time of the insurrection. She came away with the impression that Klein had been in D.C.; however, she was not aware that her son breached the Capitol.
"I asked him – he said 'I was on the Mall.' I said, 'did you go on the Capitol grounds?' He said 'no I did not, I was on the Mall,'" Cecilia Klein said.
"Fred's politics burn a little hot," she said, "but I've never known him to violate the law."
“A little hot”? The evidence shows much more that “a little” part in the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6.
“KLEIN was also captured on the BWC of a second MPD Sergeant ( hereinafter Sergeant 2 ) at approximately 3:00:20 p.m. At that time , the mob was attempting to push through the first of two sets of doors to the U.S. Capitol building. Sergeant 2 verbally issued a command to the crowd to “ Back up.” Sergeant 2 repeated that command six (6) times.
“KLEIN did not back up. At 3:00:29 p.m., Sergeant 2 issued the command Let it go now, back up .” Again, KLEIN did not back up. Instead, at 3:00:37 p.m., he violently shoved a riot shield that apparently had been taken from an officer, towards the officers trying to stop the mob from gaining access to the building. In doing so , KLEIN pushed the riot shield in between the doors to the Capitol, preventing officers from closing the doors …
“Later in the same video, at approximately minute 24:29 , KLEIN was captured actively resisting and pushing against additional unidentified MPD and / or U.S. Capitol Police officers, hindering their ability disperse the crowd in the tunnel. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1469&v=qc0U755-uiM&feature=youtu.be”
(BENJAMIN G. FULP SPECIAL AGENT, FBI Attested to by the applicant in accordance with the requirements ofFed. R. Crim. P. by telephone , this 2nd day of March, 2021. ZIA M.FARUQUI U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE)
You can read Benjamin G. Fulp's testimony by clicking here: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/federico-klein.pdf
Federico G. Klein was just another member of the good old boy MAGA “Stop the Steal” crowd following orders from headquarters. None of this mayhem would have occurred if Trump had not called for action on January 6. But when he did, the predominantly white and male faction of self-described “patriots” – Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, Groypers, and other white supremacists – continued to pledge their fidelity to the former President. They became part of a mob that threatened destruction of the Capitol and death to Congressional members simply doing their appointed job.
That violent mob included at least one decorated marine who had been a Capitol Hill intern and State Department employee with top secret security clearance – a person now twisted and bent on insurrection at any cost. As part of the loyal Trump cult, this man must pay dearly for his allegiance. Many more will face similar charges, but the American president who caused the death and destruction will likely go scot-free.
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