In Washington, a physical altercation erupted during a hearing on Monday involving Vitali GossJankowski, a defendant who was convicted of multiple charges related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The incident resulted in tables being toppled and several federal agents subduing the defendant on the ground.
Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered GossJankowski to be jailed due to recent doxxing threats he made against federal agents. Shortly after, GossJankowski stood up and resisted when agents attempted to handcuff him and take him into custody.
GossJankowski, who is noticeably tall and muscular, pushed, pulled, and knocked down the officers before crashing into a nearby podium and tables. Agents from other parts of the courthouse rushed into the courtroom to assist four U.S. Marshals and FBI personnel in restraining GossJankowski, who has a hearing disability.
Earlier this year, GossJankowski was found guilty of several charges, including assaulting police, in relation to his involvement in the January 6 incident. Prosecutors had requested that he be immediately jailed prior to his sentencing due to a series of threatening Instagram posts in which he allegedly targeted and exposed private information about FBI employees.
Just before the outburst and altercation caused by GossJankowski, Judge Friedman deemed the social media posts “extremely troubling and dangerous.” Reflecting on recent debates over gag orders in former President Donald Trump’s cases, the judge stated that it is often not the public figures themselves who pose a threat to judges and agents, but rather their followers.
Friedman emphasized that threatening posts do not enjoy First Amendment protection. He referred to other federal judges in Washington who have recently been targeted and required round-the-clock security.
GossJankowski was eventually escorted out of the courtroom and taken to the D.C. jail. A date for his sentencing has yet to be determined.
