Three southern Minnesota men arrested for alleged participation in Jan. 6 attack

A father and son and another relative from southern Minnesota have been arrested and each charged with a felony and two misdemeanors for their alleged roles in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Kenneth W. Fuller, 44, and his son Caleb K. Fuller, 20, both of Cleveland, Minn., were charged along with Nicholas J. Fuller, 40, of Mapleton. Nicholas Fuller and Kenneth Fuller are brothers.

Each face a felony count of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, according to a news release from the U.S. Justice Department. They also face misdemeanor counts of knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority and disorderly conduct in a restricted building.

"Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election," the news release said.

Numerous law enforcement body cameras showed the men on the west outdoor plaza of the Capitol during the riot. They all were seen on the plaza resisting police officers, the release said.

In one video, as officers repeatedly instructed the crowd to get back, Kenneth Fuller turned and yelled, "Hey guys, they're getting ready to push! They're getting ready to push, guys!"

Another video showed a line of officers moving forward, trying to force the crowd down the stairs with their shields, and it showed Kenneth Fuller bracing his back and right arm against the shields, resisting the officers, the release said.

At 4:24 p.m., all three men can be seen on video descending the stairs, then walking back up to the police line, where Nicholas Fuller and Caleb Fuller can be seen pushing against police to prevent them from moving forward, the release said.

Kenneth Fuller made his initial appearance Friday in Minnesota in front of U.S. Magistrate David T. Schultz and was released on his own recognizance. He did not enter a plea. Attempts to reach him or his attorney were not successful.

Caleb Fuller and Nicholas Fuller appeared in front of Schultz last Wednesday and were released without bail or entering a plea. Assistant federal public defender Matthew Deates represented the two last week and declined to comment Monday.

All three cases were transferred to U.S. District Court in Washington D.C..

Nicholas Fuller has prior convictions in state court for theft and disorderly conduct.

More than 1,000 people have been arrested in all 50 states in connection with the attack, including more than 350 accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement, the Justice Department said.