UMass Memorial Employee At U.S. Capitol Siege Loses Job

WORCESTER, MA — UMass Memorial announced Friday afternoon that an employee who may have been involved in Wednesday's siege at the U.S. Capitol was no longer employed with the organization.

UMass Memorial announced Friday morning that it was investigating claims about an employee who was involved in the riot. The healthcare provider said the employee was a "caregiver."

"Over the past 24 hours we have received numerous expressions of concern through social media regarding a UMass Memorial caregiver who may have been involved in this week's violent events at the nation's capital," UMass said in a tweet Friday evening. "The employee in question is no longer a part of our organization."

WCVB identified the employee as Therese Duke, who was captured on a video fighting with a police officer during a protest. Duke left the altercation with a bloody nose, which her daughter, Helena Duke, exposed on social media. The incident happened on Jan. 5.

At least one of the more than 50 people arrested in connection to the riot is from Massachusetts. David Ross, 33, of Pittsfield, was charged with curfew violation and unlawful entry, according to Capitol police. Ross entered the U.S. Capitol illegally along with almost two dozen others, according to DC Superior Court records.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling has said that he will prosecute any state resident who traveled to Washington and was involved in the riot.

"Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts," he said in a statement Thursday.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included two people arrested and charged with crimes in Washington, D.C., unrelated to the Jan. 6 riot.