A former city council candidate from Michigan has been convicted for attacking a police officer during the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. Jeremy Rodgers, 26, was found guilty in a Washington, D.C., court on charges including assaulting a federal officer, civil disorder, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who was appointed by Donald Trump, handed down the verdict after a bench trial.
The incident happened near the East Rotunda Door of the Capitol, where Rodgers struck a Capitol police officer three times on the helmet with a flagpole that had a blue “Trump” flag attached to it. Prosecutors described the strikes as powerful, noting they were loud enough to be caught on video. The officer, who was wearing an ill-fitting helmet, reported feeling the blows and experienced vertigo and dizziness afterward.
Rodgers wasn’t just attacking officers; he was also actively encouraging rioters. At one point, he tried to stop officers from closing the East Rotunda Door and entered the Capitol through it at 2:26 p.m. Once inside, he moved a railing to clear the way for others, calling out, “Come on in,” and shouting “USA, USA” while urging the crowd toward the House Chambers. He later got into another scuffle with police, waved his flag through the Rotunda, and finally left the building around 2:56 p.m.
Authorities arrested Rodgers in Orlando, Florida, on June 30, 2023, after tips from people who knew him identified him as “AFO #242.” On social media, he was nicknamed “The Freshman Flagger” for his youthful appearance and the flag he carried that day. Before the riots, Rodgers was known in Midland, Michigan, as an active Republican Party member and even ran for a city council seat in 2020.
“Jeremy Rodgers was very active in the local party from 2018 until news of his charges came out,” Midland County Clerk Ann Manary told local media.
Rodgers’ case has drawn attention because of political debates surrounding January 6 defendants. His attorney, William Shipley, recently filed a motion asking for the case to be delayed. Shipley argued that two recent events could impact the outcome. First, President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on December 1, 2024, raising questions about the Justice Department’s discretion. Second, President-Elect Donald Trump announced on December 8, 2024, that he plans to offer relief to January 6 defendants if he takes office.
Rodgers is one of many defendants hoping Trump’s return to the White House will lead to pardons for their actions on January 6. For now, however, Rodgers faces the consequences of his actions during one of the most infamous days in recent U.S. history.
