(WWJ) -- A metro Detroit man has been charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and threatening to "kill those commie bastards," during a "looming war," according to a federal court document.
Anthony Michael Puma of Brownstown Township was arrested Thursday for his role in the capitol riot and is facing several charges, including obstruction of Justice/Congress, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds.
The 47-year-old Puma is also charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in or within such proximity to any restricted building or grounds.
Puma is the eighth person from Michigan to be charged in connection with the Capitol riots.
He told investigators that he was in Washington, D.C. from Jan. 5-7. After hearing President Donald Trump speak at a rally, Puma and his friends followed the crowd to the U.S. Capitol Building.
"According to Puma, as the group walked up Pennsylvania Ave toward the Capitol, they did not notice anything of concern, nor did they witness any violence. At some point during their walk to the Capitol, Puma said that he heard that the Capitol was breached," according to the document.
"According to Puma, he arrived at the east side of the Capitol between 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Puma said that, when he arrived, there were no police or barricades blocking entry. Puma said that he walked up on the mezzanine, walked inside the Capitol, and into the atrium. Puma noticed Capitol Police staged inside the Capitol in front of doors or hallways which Puma thought might lead to the tunnels. He said that he saw people sitting inside offices and rooms. Puma claimed that he did not witness any violence or looting inside the Capitol."
Federal agents say Puma scaled a wall outside the Capitol and entered the building through a broken window. They also say he encouraged others to join him on the day thousands of Americans descended on the Capitol in protest of the 2020 Presidential Election.
After appearing in federal court in Detroit Thursday, Puma was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
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