The deep connections between the actions of Donald J. Trump, Trump administration and the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol come into clearer focus every day. The latest example: Federico G. Klein, a State Department official in the Trump administration, was arrested yesterday on a wide range of charges related to the attack, including unlawful entry, violent and disorderly conduct, obstructing Congress and law enforcement, and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.
At the time that Klein participated in the insurrection, he was still employed by the State Department and possessed a Top Secret security clearance, according to the FBI. Klein was clearly an active and dangerous participant in the attacks.
Mr. Klein can be seen in video footage and other images dressed in a red “Make America Great Again” hat, slacks and a dress shirt as he tries to break past a line of Metropolitan Police officers in a tunnel near the west terrace, according to the document. “Klein quickly pushed his way to the front-left side of the crowd and to the doorway to the Capitol building, where he physically and verbally engaged with the officers holding the line,” the F.B.I. said.
He was part of a mob that tried to push through the doors despite warnings by an officer to back up, the F.B.I. said, and used a “riot shield that apparently had been taken from an officer” to prevent the closing of the doors.
Mr. Klein was seen in other videos “calling back to the crowd behind him, ‘We need fresh people, we need fresh people’ multiple times,” the F.B.I. said.
Klein also allegedly used the riot shield to assault police officers.
The FBI received a tip about Klein back in January. It’s unclear why it took them until March to arrest him.