An Orrington man has been accused of storming the U.S. Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Benjamin Bowden has been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a restricted building or grounds; and destruction of government property, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Bangor.
Bowden is the latest Mainer to face charges related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol during which a mob loyal to Donald Trump attempted to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. Rioters assaulted police officers and caused millions in damage to the Capitol building. The total cost of the riot, including damage, investigations and security upgrades, is about $2.7 billion, according to the Government Accountability Office.
In a statement of facts attached to the complaint, an FBI special agent reported that a review of Bowden’s debit card transactions showed he traveled from Maine to the Washington, D.C., area before the Capitol riot.
A review of surveillance camera footage showed Bowden moving through the Capitol dressed in a dark-colored flannel with the sleeves rolled up, blue jeans, a silver wristwatch and a neck gaiter, according to the FBI statement of facts.
Bowden allegedly entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing door at approximately 2:17 p.m. as alarms blared around him. While in the Capitol, Bowden is accused of kicking a closed door and picking up a brass stanchion and striking the door leading to the office of then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
At approximately 2:34 p.m., Bowden allegedly entered the Rotunda, where he posed for a photograph, met and talked with rioters, and displaced a rope barrier attached to several stanchions.
While near an interior Rotunda door, a rioter gave him water, which Bowden used to rinse his eyes.
After rinsing his eyes, he departed the Capitol through the East Rotunda Door at approximately 2:57 p.m., about 40 minutes after he allegedly entered the complex.
Bowden came to the attention of the FBI on Oct. 14, 2021, when a tipster called to identify a riot suspect pictured on the agency’s “Wanted” website.
On Dec. 1, 2021, the FBI interviewed someone familiar with Bowden who identified him as the rioter in the photographs. The next day agents interviewed another person familiar with Bowden, and when shown the photographs, the witness told the FBI that the man was “absolutely Ben,” according to the statement of facts.
On June 10, 2022, another person who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 also identified Bowden in a series of photographs.
Bowden was scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon.
Correction: An earlier version of this report incorrectly stated no court date had been set for Bowden.
