A Texas man, arrested for his part in the rioting at the U.S. Capitol, says that he is willing to testify in Congress and apologized for a death threat made against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Federal prosecutors used social media posts of Garret Miller, 34, of Richardson, Texas, as evidence to substantiate their charges against him.
At one point during Capitol rioting on Jan. 6, Miller allegedly tweeted “Assassinate AOC” to the congresswoman. In another message, he implied that he wanted to hang the Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the rioting at the Capitol.
In a statement from Miller’s defense attorney Clinton Broden, he said that he believed he was following the “instructions” of President Donald Trump when he joined the mob at the Capitol.
“I was in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, because I believed I was following the instructions of former President Trump and he was my president and the commander-in-chief. His statements also had me believing the election was stolen from him,” Miller said in the statement.
“Nevertheless, I fully recognize Joe Biden is now the President of the United States and that the election is over,” the statement continued. “Donald Trump is no longer president and I would not have any reason to continue to follow his lead.”
He also apologized to AOC and the Capitol Police but said that the tweets were not meant as a threat.
“While I never intended to harm Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez nor harm any members of the Capitol Police force, I recognize that my social media posts were completely inappropriate. They were made at a time when Donald Trump had me believing that an American election was stolen,” Miller continued.
“I want to publicly apologize to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and the Capitol Police officers. I have always supported law enforcement and I am ashamed by my comments,” he added.
Miller was ordered detained without bail on Monday. He is charged with several crimes including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Another message documented by federal prosecutors showed Miller refuting the idea that the people who rioted at the Capitol were instigated by “paid infiltrators.”
Image Source: Twitter screenshot
“Nah we stormed it. We where gentle. We where unarmed. We knew what had to be done,” Miller said on social media.
Here’s more about the arrest of Garrett Miller:
Man arrested for role in Capitol riot, threatening to assassinate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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