Ex-FDNY Firefighter From Long Island Charged In Capitol Riots

FREEPORT, NY — A retired New York City firefighter from Freeport was arrested Tuesday and accused of breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Thomas Fee is charged with violent entry, disorderly conduct and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. He surrendered to authorities Tuesday morning.

At a hearing on Tuesday, Fee was released on bail of a $100,000 bond. He is also barred from attending any political rallies, and is not allowed to visit the U.S. Capitol or any state capitols. The court also made him surrender two firearms he owns. He is only allowed to travel around Long Island, to New York City, and to Washingtong, D.C. for court business.

Fee sent his girlfriend's brother a selfie of himself in the Capitol Rotunda, according to court documents. Fee also sent the man a video from inside the Capitol and said that he was "at the tip of the spear," authorities said.

The man Fee sent the picture and video to is a special agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, which is part of the State Department, authorities said. The man initially deleted the photo and video from his phone but later recovered them and turned them over to authorities, according to court documents.

According to the New York Post, Fee was suspended from his position as a volunteer firefighter in the Hempstead Fire Department in 2004 after yelling racial slurs at a Black doctor.

Newsday reported Fee retired from the FDNY on Oct. 22 after 22 years in the department.