- DEA particular agent Mark Ibrahim is dealing with multiple felony rates, such as entering a restricted creating with a weapon.
- Ibrahim is the initial federal legislation enforcement agent charged in link with the Capitol riot.
Drug Enforcement Administration Unique Agent Mark Ibrahim became the 1st member of federal regulation enforcement to be charged in connection with the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Ibrahim, of Orange County, California, is facing felony prices of entering a restricted setting up and region with a weapon, carrying a firearm on the grounds of the Capitol and lying to investigators from the Business office of the Inspector Normal.
Whilst the affidavit states Ibrahim failed to basically enter the Capitol building, the affidavit incorporates a photo of Ibrahim within the to start with established of fencing and barricades that surrounded the Capitol prior to the crowd broke by way of and alleges Ibrahim was on Capitol grounds that day.
By means of his attorney, Ibrahim has insisted that he didn’t enter the Capitol and was not involved with any violence. He also allegedly stated he did not screen his DEA badge or firearm all through the day’s gatherings however, the affidavit detailing Ibrahim’s places and steps that day demonstrates him posing many instances with his badge and weapon exposed.
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“Ibrahim performed no position in any riot. He never ever committed any violence, attempted to enter any buildings nor induced or promoted others to do so,” Darren Richie, Ibrahim’s legal professional, told POLITICO.
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Richie also extra that the “indictment outcomes from conjecture, political tension and a flawed attempt to paint a specific narrative via pictures taken wholly out of context.”
Investigators located quite a few images of Ibrahim among the pro-Trump group at the Capitol on Jan. 6, which includes types in which he shown both of those his DEA badge and firearm, which ended up taken at his request, in accordance to the affidavit. In one particular of the photographs, Ibrahim is posing in front of the Capitol holding a flag declaring “Liberty or death” with his badge and firearm shown on his hip.
Ibrahim also despatched a photograph of himself standing following to a single of the barricades that experienced been broken by way of before to a WhatsApp group chat with at minimum 5 other regulation enforcement officers, in accordance to the affidavit. It also pointed out that he later despatched that exact group chat a movie of him on a lawn located earlier mentioned the Capitol’s visitor heart.
Throughout his job interview with investigators, the affidavit states that Ibrahim admitted that he was at the Capitol with a good friend who was there to doc the occasion for the FBI. Ibrahim’s mate denied his story, declaring he had no instruction from the company.
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The close friend explained to the investigators that Ibrahim went to the rally to “promote himself” and wished the rally to be “his phase for launching ‘Liberty Tavern’ political podcast and cigar model,” according to the affidavit.
At the time of the event, Ibrahim was a “probationary employee” of the DEA, according to the Workplace of the Inspector Common, and experienced, months ahead of the insurrection, specified the DEA observe of his intention to resign. He was on personalized leave when he attended the rally on Jan. 6.