'I Was A Peaceful Observer': Candidate Talks Capitol Riot

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Township Road District Commissioner candidate and Republican Brent Porfilio spoke to Patch Friday, addressing posts on social media suggesting that he participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Porfilio said he was there but was not involved in breaching the building.

Patch received several screenshots of Porfilio's now-deleted Facebook posts, including statements like "stormed Capitol building with my Trump brethren today!!" and "Dealt with tear gas and pepper spray."

Porfilio told Patch that he did attend the rally for President Donald Trump that day and was on the grounds of the Capitol building but did not go inside.

"I was a peaceful observer," he told Patch. "I was not involved in breaking into the building."

"People don't want to hear that, they want to condemn me," he said, adding that he has been called a "domestic terrorist" and an "insurrectionist" by people on social media.

Porfilio said he has not been charged with any offenses. He did speak to the FBI, for the purpose of identifying people in the crowd and providing photos and videos from that day, Porfilio told Patch.

Porfilio said he deleted his Facebook posts after a day, and questioned how anyone got ahold of his posts. He suggested that the posts were "dug up by the incumbent [candidates] and their supporters."

"It's shameful and embarrassing the incumbents are supporting these attacks on me," he said.

Porfilio said he has attended several Trump rallies, including some out of state. He said he expected the rally to be the same as others he had attended, which had all ended peacefully.

He said those who stormed the Capitol building were "people who got involved were hired or paid."

Porfilio did not offer evidence of his claim that paid agitators were at the riot, and the Associated Press and other outlets have reported that there is no evidence that it was antifa activists, not Trump supporters, responsible for the breach.

"I might have embellished a bit in the heat of the moment," he said, referring to his post stating he "stormed" the building. "I was observing, I was not participating, there's a big difference, people need to understand that," Porfilio said.

"I'm not at the door trying to break windows or fight police," he said.

Porfilio said people are attacking his children on social media, and he has hired a cyberattack attorney.

He said he chose to speak to Patch because several community groups on Facebook have continued to post the screenshots from his Facebook page.

"I'm not going to fight with people who don't understand what the real truth is," he said. "None of those people were there."

Porfilio said people have "misinterpreted" his post, and he has tried to explain, but "they don't want to hear any part of it."

Porfilio said voters should look at his qualifications when they decide who to vote for.

"I'm an easygoing guy, I'm a Catholic, I love my brothers and sisters, I'm a public servant," he said.

Porfilio is running for Homer Township Road District commissioner as part of the Homer Township Republican slate. According to the slate's website, Porfilio currently serves as a planning and zoning commissioner for the city of Lockport and Homer Township Precinct Committeeman. He is a licensed professional civil engineer.