Rhode Island Man Charged In Jan. 6 Capitol Breach: FBI

WASHINGTON, DC — A Rhode Island man is facing several charges for his alleged role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the FBI announced this week.

Authorities said special agents and members of the FBI Boston's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Rhode Island arrested William B. Cotton of Hopkinton in connection with the deadly attack.

Cotton is facing federal charges including entering a restricted building or ground, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds and parading, and demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, WPRI reported.

Since the breach, hundreds of people across the country have been charged for attempting to disrupt a joint session of Congress gathered to certify the 2020 presidential election.

Cotton is the third Rhode Island resident to face charges, according to multiple reports.

Court filings obtained by MassLive.com say Cotton was among a group of people that entered the locked Capitol building as the Senate and House of Representatives met in their respective chambers. Once inside the Capitol, Cotton made a phone call, took a video of the mob, and chanted along with other rioters, the report said.

Eleven months after the attack, the FBI received a tip after photos and video of the Capitol appeared to show Cotton, MassLive.com reported.

Cotton appeared in court Wednesday. When approached by WPRI, Cotton said he recently suffered a stroke and doesn't remember being at the Capitol on Jan. 6.