Longtime Chicago Activist Larry Ligas Charged In Capitol Riot

CHICAGO — The founder of a Logan Square community group has become the latest Illinois resident charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Lawrence "Larry" Ligas, 62, of Chicago was arrested Wednesday and charged in Washington, D.C., federal court with entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

According to a sworn statement submitted by FBI agent Kaitlyn Davis, location data and photographs obtained from Ligas's Google account, security video from inside the Capitol building and flight records all contributed to providing probable cause that Ligas violated the federal statues.

Davis said footage from inside the Capitol shows the man she believes to be Ligas spending about eight minutes inside the Capitol shortly before 3 p.m. on Jan. 6.

According to Davis, the FBI received a tip from a past acquaintance of Ligas five days after the Capitol breach. That person pointed out that Ligas had been quoted by name in an NPR article published the day of the riot.

Ligas told NPR that he used to be a Democrat before former President Donald Trump earned his vote in 2016.

"We are not Republicans," he said. "We are the MAGA party. We are patriots."

Back in March 2016, Ligas spoke to DNAInfo while in attendance at Trump's abortive rally at the UIC Pavilion on Chicago's Near West Side. At the time, he described himself as a lifelong Democrat who was undecided on whether to vote for Trump.

"I want to know who is really supporting him," Ligas said at the time."[His supporters] are hardworking people, you can definitely tell that."

Ligas founded the community group Logan Square Concerned Citizens in the mid-1990s. It is not clear if the group has any other members. He is also listed on an online resume as the president of a real estate consulting, development and property management company. According to WCIA-TV, Ligas has recently worked on behalf of the gubernatorial campaign of State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

In addition to taking photos of the crowd breaking into the Capitol building and snapping a "selfie" inside, Ligas posed for a portrait inside its rotunda, according to the FBI agent's 11-page affidavit.

Ligas joins at least 14 other Illinois residents who have been charged with federal crimes in connection with the events of Jan. 6.

Last month, Bradley Rukstales, an Inverness resident and the former CEO of a Schaumburg-based company, became the first Illinoisan to be sentenced in such a case. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

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