Staff Report –

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three Trump supporters from New York and another from California have been arrested and charged for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of Congress in the process of counting the electoral votes in the presidential election of 2020.

Edward Badalian, 27, of Los Angeles, California, was also charged in an indictment with conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and other offenses.

Badalian was charged in a superseding indictment returned in a case initially filed in March 2021 against Daniel Rodriguez, 39, of Fontana, California. Rodriguez was indicted at that time on charges including the assault of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone. The superseding indictment adds a conspiracy charge against him, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on March 31, 2021. He was arraigned on Nov. 16 ,2021, in the District of Columbia.

According to the indictment, in the fall of 2020, Badalian, Rodriguez and others created a Telegram group chat, called the “Patriots 45 MAGA Gang,” and used it as a platform to advocate violence against certain groups and individuals that that either supported the 2020 Presidential election results, supported what the group perceived as liberal, or communist ideologies, or held positions of authority in government.

The group’s activities included collecting weapons and tactical gear to bring to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, storming past barricades to gain unlawful access to the Capitol, and coordinating activities before, during, and after the “Stop the Steal” rally, march to the Capitol, riot and insurrection.

The indictment in the California cases alleges that the defendants conspired to stop the peaceful transfer of power, to delay and hinder Congress’s Certification of the Electoral College Vote as well as to prevent evidence from being used in the investigation of their activities.

Badalian was arrested on Nov. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles and made his initial court appearance in the Central District of California. He was arraigned on Nov. 23 in the District of Columbia.

New York Men Charged

Gregory Purdy, 23, of Hopewell Junction, and his uncle, Robert Turner, 39, of Poughkeepsie, are charged with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, among other charges. Purdy’s brother, Matthew Purdy, 22, also of Hopewell Junction, is charged with misdemeanor offenses.

Gregory and Matthew Purdy were arrested on Nov. 10, 2021, and Robert Turner was arrested on Nov. 22, 2021. All were released pending further proceedings, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to court documents in the New York cases, video footage shows Gregory Purdy, his brother, and Turner amongst a group standing outside the U.S. Capitol, opposite a group of officers attempting to protect the building. At approximately 2:01 p.m., the footage shows Gregory Purdy and Turner in a crowd pushing the police line, and both make contact with police.

Purdy, his brother, and Turner entered the Capitol at approximately 2:13 p.m. and remained there for at least a few minutes. A little over an hour later, Gregory Purdy is seen on video footage telling officers outside the Capitol, “We’re on the same team. You don’t have to take these orders.”

Gregory Purdy later said, “Are you guys going to let us in or are we gonna have to push in?” At various times, he appeared to wave others in the crowd behind him to move forward. At approximately 3:30 p.m., he yelled to the crowd, “Guys, we all gotta go at once.” He then counted down from ten to one, Upon reaching one, he ran forward into an officer and pushed his way past the police line. Turner also ran forward and pushed against officers.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York, Los Angeles, and Washington Field Offices. Assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the ten months since Jan. 6, more than 675 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 210 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.