WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Pendleton man is going to federal prison for 90 days for his role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Matthew Leland Klein, 27, of Pendleton, pleaded guilty in July to a felony charge of civil disorder and a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds related to the breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss on Friday, Nov. 15, sentenced Klein to 90 days in prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Klein and his brother, Jonathanpeter Allen Klein, traveled from Portland to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. After attending the rally, the brothers made their way toward the Capitol building and entered into the restricted perimeter before separating.
As a crowd of rioters amassed on the West Front of the Capitol building, Klein climbed the northwest staircase and into the scaffolding that had been erected for the inaugural stage, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported. Klein was in a position to see officers working to stop rioters from advancing on the Capitol building and rioters in the crowd assaulting those officers. While inside the scaffolding, Klein became separated from his brother.
The first breach of the Capitol occurred at approximately 2:12 p.m. when rioters broke open windows adjacent to the Senate wing door. At approximately 2:18 p.m., Klein entered the Capitol building through that door carrying a Gadsden flag, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported, and he left the building approximately 10 minutes later through a broken window next to the door. Although Klein left the building at 2:29 p.m., he did not retreat or leave the Capitol Grounds at the time.
Klein later reunited with his brother and approached the north door. There, police officers were assembled to prevent a further breach of the building. The U.S Attorney’s Office reported Klein joined his brother and other rioters in forcefully yanking the door open, causing damage to the door — which the architect of the Capitol estimated to be in excess of $10,000 — and exposing officers to the violent mob.
Immediately after breaching the door, Klein stepped back and pulled his safety goggles over his eyes. Court documents say Klein took this action because he understood law enforcement would attempt to resecure the door, including through the use of chemical irritant sprays.
Klein then positioned himself in front of this door to obstruct the officers who were emerging from the building to disperse the rioters. Klein also used his flag to interfere with the officers who were attempting to resecure the door.
The FBI arrested the two men on March 23, 2021, in Oregon.
The court has set Jonathanpeter Allen Klein’s sentencing for Dec. 2.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon provided valuable assistance, according to the statement.
The FBI’s field offices in Portland and Washington, D.C., investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 46 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,561 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 590 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 800-225-5324 or visit tips.fbi.gov.
