No Charges For Customs Officer Who Brought Gun To Capitol Rally

WASHINGTON, DC — A federal law enforcement officer arrested for carrying a gun at Saturday’s rally near the U.S. Capitol to support people jailed on charges related to the Jan. 6 insurrection will not be prosecuted.

The 27-year-old New Jersey man is an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. After being alerted by someone in the crowd about a man with a gun, Capitol Police in riot gear scrambled to surround the Customs and Border Protection officer.

The Customs and Border Protection officer, whose name was not released, was arrested for illegally possessing a gun on the grounds of the Capitol.

Four people were arrested on Saturday on or near the rally site, including the Customs and Border Protection officer.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said prosecutors were “not moving forward with charges,” the Associated Press reported Monday. But the office did not provide additional information about the decision not to press charges.

SEE ALSO: Small Crowd At 'Justice For J6' Rally As Police Show Up In Force

Law enforcement officials told the AP that the officer was not at the rally in any official capacity. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it was aware of the arrest and was “fully cooperating with the investigation.”

Speakers at Saturday's rally criticized what they described as unfair prosecution and treatment of some of the people who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 but did not commit any violence. The speakers also recounted how some insurrectionists who did commit violence and are known to law enforcement have still not been arrested.

Saturday's rally was organized by a nonprofit group led by former Trump campaign staffer Matt Braynard. In his remarks, Braynard questioned why the Capitol Police have not released more details about the members of the Capitol Police force who are being disciplined for their role in the insurrection.

The Capitol Police said a week ago that it was in the process of disciplining six officers for misconduct stemming from their behavior on Jan. 6. Three of those six officers, who the department did not identify, were flagged for "conduct unbecoming," while the others face discipline for "failure to comply with directives," "improper remarks" and "improper dissemination of information."

The Capitol Police did not provide any other details about the type of discipline, or whether the officers will face criminal charges or lose their jobs.

The Jan. 6 insurrection left dozens of police officers beaten, bloodied and bruised as the crowd of pro-Trump rioters, some armed with pipes, bats and bear spray, charged into the Capitol.

Many of the defendants in the Jan. 6 insurrection are current or former police officers — like the Customs and Border Protection officer arrested Saturday — and members of the military.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.

RELATED: Navy Veteran, Cops Among VA Residents Charged In Capitol Riots