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NJ Dad Who Assaulted Officer, Son Arrested In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot: Feds

A father-son duo from New Jersey has been arrested for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, federal officials announced.

Richard and Keith Andrews, left; Richard Andrews pushes an officer's head at the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

Richard and Keith Andrews, left; Richard Andrews pushes an officer's head at the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

Photo Credit: USDOJ

Richard Andrews, 72, of Brick, and Keith Andrews, 49, of Howell, were arrested on Oct. 29 in New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia in a press release.

Richard and Keith Andrews attended the "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before proceeding to the restricted Capitol grounds, court documents say. Richard wore a black zip-up jacket, blue tee, and gray knit skull cap, while Keith was dressed in a dark gray hoodie, black tee with white lettering, jeans, dark sneakers, and a camouflage "Trump 2020" hat. Keith also carried a camouflage backpack.

Upon arriving at the Capitol, the two men ascended the north scaffolding to reach the Upper West Terrace. At approximately 2:49 p.m., Keith entered the Capitol through a window near the Senate Wing Door as Capitol Police struggled to hold back the crowd. Keith then momentarily exited, encouraging others to enter, and reentered minutes later. 

While inside, Keith stayed in the Senate Wing hallway for ten minutes, encouraging additional rioters to come in before leaving the building himself temporarily.

Keith reentered the Capitol at about 3:01 p.m., making his way to the Crypt while using his phone, court paperwork says. He remained inside for approximately twelve minutes before exiting at 3:13 p.m. Shortly after, police efforts to secure the Senate Wing intensified, including by closing the shutters on the window Keith had used to enter the building.

At about 3:16 p.m., Richard threw a chair through the closed shutters, reopening them and striking an officer in the process.

Minutes later, Keith reentered the Capitol a third time, engaging in a brief dispute with officers trying to clear the building before exiting by 3:20 p.m. Later that afternoon, as officers tried to remove rioters from the Upper West Terrace, Richard shoved a police officer on the head. In response, officers deployed a chemical agent, causing Richard to retreat into the crowd.

Richard Andrews is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, he is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a capitol building.

Keith Andrews is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings.

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