New Hampshire Man Accused Of Illegally Entering U.S. Capitol Arraigned In Federal Court

The Boston FBI has made its first arrest of a New England resident suspected of involvement in last week's violence in Washington, D.C.

Thomas Gallagher, 61, of Bridgewater, N.H., was arrested by the Boston FBI Wednesday and appeared in federal court in Concord, N.H. Thursday afternoon. He is accused of being part of a crowd that vandalized the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, the day lawmakers were to certify the election results confirming President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

During a remote hearing before Magistrate Andrea Johnstone, Gallagher was ordered to stay out of Washington, D.C. until after Biden's inauguration next week.

He's charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Capitol police first arrested Gallagher, along with five other people, on the second floor of the Capitol building during the incident.

"I observed the crowd moving together in a disorderly fashion, and I observed members of the crowd engage in conduct such as making loud noises, and kicking chairs, throwing an unknown liquid substance at officers, and spraying an unknown substance at officers," read a statement of facts signed by Capitol police officer Joseph Bruno. "In a loud and clear voice, Capitol Police Officers ordered the crowd to leave the building. The crowd did not comply, and instead responded by shouting and cursing at the Capitol Police Officers."

Johnstone released Gallagher on personal recognizance and ordered him to stay out of Washington until at least Jan. 22, which is when he is scheduled to again appear in court.