Tampa Man Arrested After Taking Selfie During Capitol Siege: FBI

TAMPA, FL — A Tampa man was arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., via Zoom for taking part in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, authorities said.

According to the FBI, 38-year-old Paul Allard Hodgkins is seen in photographs in the Senate chamber holding a flag bearing the words "Trump 2020" during the Capitol siege that led to the deaths of five people.

Hodgkins was arrested last week and charged with obstructing an official proceeding, unlawful entry to a restricted building, impeding or disrupting official functions and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

He is represented by the U.S. Public Defender’s Office.

On Jan. 22, the FBI was notified through its tip line that Hodgkins had taken a selfie in the Senate chambers on the day of the siege, the FBI said.

"That image is a selfie-style photograph of a Caucasian male with long black hair, a black moustache, black beard, who is wearing a dark T-shirt with 'Trump' in white letters," said the FBI agent who followed up on the tip. "He appears to have a pair of protective eye goggles under his chin."

The agent compared the photo to Hodgkins’ Florida driver’s license picture and found it was a match, the FBI said.

FBI investigators said they also obtained closed-circuit security footage from Jan. 6 showing Hodgkins walking around the Senate chamber wearing his goggles and taking photos with his cell phone. At one point, the video shows Hodgkins putting on what appear to be white latex gloves while standing near a desk, investigators said.

The FBI agent also reviewed 12 minutes of video footage of the Jan. 6 siege published by the New Yorker magazine.

He said he recognized Hodgkins in the footage showing a group of people standing on the raised platform at the front of the Senate chamber.

"Hodgkins is standing in the Senate well carrying a red flag with 'Trump 2020' in white letters," the agent said in the affidavit. "Hodgkins can be seen standing adjacent to the elevated desk and platform where several other individuals are shouting, praying and commanding the attention of others in the Senate chamber ... At one point, Hodgkins puts his eye goggles on and later removes them. Toward the end, Hodgkins raises his flag in salute."

On Jan. 26, FBI agents interviewed Hodgkins, who they said admitted he traveled alone by bus from Florida to Washington, D.C., and was in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. He also admitted he was in the photos, the agents said.

During his time in the Capitol, Hodgkins said he saw people breaking windows, engaged in a knife fight and injured during his time in the building but said he did not know those involved and did not participate, the agents said.

Hodgkins was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond with the stipulation that he surrender his firearms and passport and abide by a curfew from 1:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Last week, the FBI arrested three other Floridians on charges of conspiring to obstruct the Congress' certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election, among other charges.

All are reported to be members of the Florida chapter of Oath Keepers.

Graydon Young, 54, of Englewood, was arrested in Tampa, and Kelly Meggs, 52, and Connie Meggs, 59, both of Dunnellon, were arrested in Ocala.

According to the indictment, Kelly Meggs is the self-described leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers. In late December, Meggs wrote in a Facebook message, “Trump said It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that’s what he’s saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC pack your s***!!”

He went on to say, “[W]e will have at least 50-100 OK there.”

In making plans for the Jan. 6 siege, the indictment said, Kelly Meggs posted on social media that his group would not need to be armed for the attack on the U.S. Capitol because there would be a “heavy QRF 10 Min out[.]” The abbreviation “QRF” refers to “quick reaction force,” a term used by law enforcement and the military to refer to an armed unit capable of rapidly responding to developing situations, typically to assist allied units in need of such assistance.

According to the George Washington University Program on Extremism, 245 people have been arrested in the Capitol Hill siege. They come from 40 states and the District of Columbia.

The FBI is still looking for others who may have been involved. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos to www.tips.fbi.gov.

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