Attack On U.S. Capitol Leads To Charges Against 2 Howard Co. Men

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Two men from Howard County face charges in relation to the attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 that overwhelmed police, killed five people and led to members of Congress hiding in lockdown.

Andrew Ryan Bennett of Columbia faces charges related to entering the building, according to the Baltimore field office of the FBI. According to The Baltimore Sun, Bennett is believed to have livestreamed from inside the Capitol, which was overrun by demonstrators.

FBI agents recently arrested Matthew Ryan Miller, 22, of Cooksville, after he was identified in photographs as someone who used a fire extinguisher to attack police officers who were trying to prevent people from entering the Capitol, according to The Baltimore Sun.

He has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority, and doing so with a dangerous weapon; knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds.

D.C. Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui said during Miller's initial appearance in court that his perceived actions were "quite severe and quite concerning," The Baltimore Sun reported. The FBI indicated that an acquaintance of Miller helped identify him in the photos.