Pittsburgh-Area Man Charged With Participating In Capitol Riot

PITTSBURGH, PA — A Glenshaw man was arrested Friday morning by the FBI on federal charges related to his alleged participation in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Robert Morss of Glenshaw was scheduled to have an initial hearing Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Morss has been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers of employees; civil disorder; robbery of personal property of the United States and obstruction of official proceeding.

Morss was identified from various photos and videos taken during the incident.

According to the criminal complaint affadavit, agents spoke with numerous witnesses who knew Morss and were able to identify him from the pictures.

Morss also was captured on video near the front line of rioters who pushed past police guarding the Capitol, organizing a shield wall in the violent attack on officers inside the Lower West Terrace tunnel and entering into the Capitol through a broken window.

According to the affadavit, Morss was caught on video addressing officers and can be heard saying, “You guys are betraying us. You get paid enough to betray your people?” Morss then points and says, “look they are coming in over there.” He then says, “This is our Capitol. This is our Capitol.”

Morss also was among the rioters who ripped riot shields out of the hands of police officers, according to the affadavit. Photos taken at the scene appear to indicate Morss was armed with a knife.

Investigators say they also found that Morss purchased gas at a Falls Church, VA station on Jan. 7.

More than 500 people have been arrested in connection with the insurrection.