Bucks Co. Man Charged In Capitol Riots Has Violent Past, Feds Say

BRISTOL, PA — A Bristol Borough man who was charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks in Washington, D.C. is among the most dangerous offenders and should not be released from custody, federal prosecutors argued in a U.S. Department of Justice memo filed Wednesday.

Ryan Samsel, 37, was arrested in February in connection with the Capitol attacks, which happened as members of Congress were confirming President Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump. Video from that day shows Samsel, wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat, confronting an officer and saying, "We don't have to hurt you. Why are you standing in our way?" according to the FBI.

After running a criminal background check, they found Samsel was on parole in Pennsylvania and wanted by police in Riverside, New Jersey on an assault charge.

The latest filing by federal prosecutors indicates that Samsel has a lengthy and extensive history of violence. Samsel's assault of a police officer in the Jan. 6 attacks is the latest in a string of prior violent incidents dating back to 2006, prosecutors say.

"The facts underlying these other convictions are extremely disturbing," the document reads. "They show a pattern of Samsel choking and beating women to the point of loss of consciousness, of many hospital visits for many victims, of chipped and missing teeth, and of Samsel even breaking into one victim’s home multiple times to assault her."

In 2007, a police report was filed against Samsel after he allegedly got into another man's car and started hitting him in the face.

In 2009, Samsel was convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment after he held a victim against her will for five hours, choking her to the point of unconsciousness, pushing her, beating her, and chipping her teeth.

In 2011, Samsel was convicted of simple assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint, as well as for intimidation of a witness. The allegations of that assault involved Samsel smashing a hot pizza in the victim's face, beating the victim, pouring a beer over her head and eventually throwing her into the canal, where he then hopped down and held her head under.

A different victim came forward in 2019, recounting several incidents of Samsel choking her to the point of unconsciousness and breaking into her house and assaulting her. The victim also alleged Samsel raped her several times.

Meanwhile, prosecutors acknowledged that Samsel's attorney, Elisabeth Pasqualini, is correct in asserting that her client was beaten while in federal custody. Pasqualini said the attack left him with injuries that were not properly treated while in custody.

Five people from Bucks County have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack. Besides Samsel, authorities have charged Dawn Bancroft, owner of a Cross Fit gym in Plumstead Township; Raechel Genco, a 38-year-old woman from Bristol Borough; Diana Santos-Smith, of Doylestown; and Leonard Pearso Ridge IV, a 19-year-old man from Feasterville.

Related: Bucks Co. Among Those With Most Capitol Riot Arrests In Country

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