BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Cheektowaga man charged in the U.S. Capitol riots appeared in federal court virtually Tuesday.
Peter Harding is facing misdemeanor charges for his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol riots on January 6.
A man wearing a maroon colored hoodie, believed to be Harding, was spotted in a video taken inside the Capitol.
In Harding’s Facebook video posts outside the Capitol that same day he's wearing the same hoodie, but Harding says he was only part of a peaceful demonstration outside the building.
On January 12, the FBI put the alleged photo of Harding on its list of people who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
The #FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying individuals who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Visit https://t.co/0JO0XyU8QG to see a new poster with more people, and if you see someone familiar, submit a tip at https://t.co/buMd8vYXzH. pic.twitter.com/sj22HXTWok
— FBI (@FBI) January 13, 2021
On January 13 the FBI searched Harding's Cheektowaga home. According to the FBI, the search was for a "court authorized activity" and Harding was not arrested at the home.
Niagara County Sheriff's Office inmate records indicated late on January 13 that Harding was booked into county jail and was being held on behalf of the U.S. Marshal Service. He was scheduled for an "initial appearance on criminal complaint" in court.
The initial court appearance in Washington, D.C. occurred Tuesday, January 19.
During that initial court appearance, he was provided the conditions of his release which are:
- Location monitoring and a curfew
- No travel to Washington, D.C. (except for court if needed)
- No traveling outside New York State (except for court if needed)
Harding is due back in court February 2.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 7 Eyewitness News has chosen to use Harding's booking photo on its digital and broadcast platforms in accordance to its mugshot policy. Harding's image falls into one of three protocol under which we publish mugshots: "The crime is sufficiently newsworthy that the inclusion of the person's image is of more significant value to the viewer." Read our mugshot policy here.
