Among the images burned into our collective memory from Wednesday’s wretchedly historic insurrection is a photo of Josiah Colt hanging off the side of the Senate balcony, after Colt and other right-wing conspiracy theorists stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Now the Idaho native is begging for forgiveness. In a statement to CBS2 News, Colt attempted to apologize for his action during the violent riot via statement.
“I recognize my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country,” the statement reads. “In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing. I realize now that my actions were inappropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho.”
Following the assault on the Capitol, which led to five deaths and dozens of arrests, Colt bragged on his social media accounts about invading the Senate chamber and sitting in Nancy Pelosi’s chair, calling the House Speaker a “traitor” and a “bitch.” He had actually sat in Vice President Mike Pence’s seat.
"I just got in, I just got into the Capitol Building. I was the first one, I hopped down into the chamber and I was the first on to sit in Nancy Pelosi's [chair], that bitch, she's a traitor, she's treasonous," Colt said on video while running.
"My intention wasn't to put a stain on our great Country's Democratic process,” Colt said in his statement.
Since the riot he’s deleted his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts. It's possible that he will face criminal charges as the FBI works to identify and apprehend those involved in the attack. A number of rioters identified have already lost or are at risk of losing their jobs.
One of those people is 31-year-old Metro-North worker Will Pepe was suspended without pay after he called out sick to participate in the storming of the Capitol, the New York Postreports.
Paul Davis, a Texas attorney who was employed with Goosehead Insurance, has been fired after he went to social media to broadcast that he was present at the failed coup attempt.
Rick Saccone, an adjunct professor at Saint Vincent College and former Pennsylvania state representative, was also seen with the pro-Trump mob and has since resigned.
"As a result of that investigation, Dr. Saccone has submitted and we have accepted his letter of resignation, effective immediately. He will no longer be associated with Saint Vincent College in any capacity," Saint Vincent College's Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Michael Hustava said, per CNN.
Among those arrested includes newly elected West Virginia legislator Derrick Evans. Evans, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, is facing a criminal charge for entering a restricted area of the US Capitol. Per CNN, the lawmaker recorded a Facebook Live of himself during the siege, where he’s shouting "We're in! We're in, baby!" His actions have resulted in multiple calls for his resignation.
The FBI is continuing to track down rioters tied to Wednesday’s storming on the Capitol. Footage of one woman whose grandson was apprehended by the FBI is circulating online, in which she “thanks” the president for “invoking a riot at the White House.”
