Messianic Rabbi From Palm Harbor Took Part In Capitol Seige: FBI

PALM HARBOR, FL — A Palm Harbor Messianic rabbi is among the latest Floridians accused of storming to the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6.

In a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Michael Stepakoff, 55, is accused of entering the Capitol with a mob that stormed the building to prevent the congressional certification of the electoral college vote.

Stepakoff leads Temple New Jerusalem, a Messianic synagogue in Palm Harbor. He is also a former attorney.

He is among about 17 Floridians accused of crimes related to the storming of the Capitol. The Department of Justice said a total of 164 people from 39 states have been identified as taking part in the siege. Authorities estimate that 800 people illegally entered the Capitol, many climbing walls to gain access, then smashing windows and damaging offices.

"Temporary and permanent barricades were in place around the exterior of the U.S. Capitol building, and U.S. Capitol Police were present and attempting to keep the crowd away from the Capitol building and the proceedings underway inside," said an FBI investigator in the complaint.

"Shortly around 2 p.m., individuals in the crowd forced entry into the U.S. Capitol, including by breaking windows and by assaulting members of the U.S. Capitol Police, as others in the crowd encouraged and assisted those acts," said the investigator. "At approximately 2:20 p.m. members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, including the President of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence, were instructed to—and did—evacuate the chambers."

Attached to the complaint are two closed-circuit video images showing a man now identified as Stepakoff. One shows Stepakoff "entering through a door under an "Exit" sign with a large mob and another shows him standing in the Capitol beneath a chandelier, taking photos with a cell phone."

An unnamed witness identified Stepakoff as an acquaintance of 20 years.

The document also includes a Jan. 6 Facebook post showing Stepakoff with Trump supporters outside the Capitol including a selfie. The caption reads, “Epic and historical moment."

United States District Court

Another Facebook post by Stepakoff's wife reads, "Update on Michael, yall. Please continue to pray for his protection and to be safe. He texted me privately and said he is okay but it’s very dangerous where he is- He was inside the Capitol Building ...”

United States District Court

Those Facebook posts have since been removed.

Stepakoff was arrested Friday morning at his home in Palm Harbor and appeared in the federal court in Tampa later Friday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Porcelli released Stepakoff without bond with the conditions that he remain in Florida and only travel to Washington, D.C., for court. The judge also required that he surrender his passport and any guns he owns.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George noted that "This is a misdemeanor case, but it is serious. This defendant is a former attorney who took an oath to uphold the law.”

Stepakoff is being represented by Rick Terrana who said Stepakoff did nothing criminal.

“He was there among peaceful protesters,” Terrana said. He said Stepakoff is a family man and staunch Republican, who went to Washington, D.C., for a business trip related to his work as a spiritual leader and attended Trump’s speech while there.

“There certainly was no pre-planning or organization or conspiracy with him,” Terrana said. “He got caught up in the crowd. It’s yet to be seen what if anything he did wrong.”

However, Stepakoff's Twitter comments tells a different story.

“I am proud to be an American,” he wrote, “and I made the trip up from Florida to support the effort to save America. D.C., swarming with MAGA people. We’re not gonna take it! Thank you President Trump!”

According to the criminal complaint, Stepakoff is accused of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

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