Former NFL Player Charged for Capitol Riot Involvement
Atlanta, Georgia – A former professional American football player, Antwoine Williams, has been charged in connection with the riots that occurred at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Williams is facing serious felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding police officials. He also has several lesser misdemeanour charges against him. His charges were officially filed on November 7, marking what is reportedly the first case linked to the Capitol riot after the presidential election victory of Joe Biden.
Williams, 31, had a brief career in the NFL after making a name for himself as a standout defensive player at Georgia Southern University. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2016 and spent one season with the team before being released. He also had brief stints with other American football teams.
According to court documents, videos captured during the Capitol riot show Williams actively participating in the chaos. The footage depicted him pulling on barricades and physically striking a police officer, as well as struggling with other law enforcement members. Prosecutors noted that he remained at the Capitol grounds until late in the evening of January 6.
Williams was identified as a suspect due to distinct clothing, including a golf hat and a unique key fob he was wearing, which matched images shared on social media. This led to his nickname, “RiotingGolfer,” given by a group of online volunteers known as “sedition hunters,” who work to track down participants in the riot through public videos and pictures.
The Capitol riot involved thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump, as they stormed the building, halting the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. Since that day, over 1,500 individuals have been arrested for their involvement in the event. Trump has indicated he may issue pardons to some of those rioters, although specifics about the criteria for these pardons have not been disclosed and remain unclear.
The FBI continues its investigation to identify many more suspects who were present at the Capitol that day, as the legal ramifications of the event unfold in various courts across the country.
