Evergreen Reporter

A Connecticut man pleaded guilty on July 8, 2024, to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Benjamin Cohen, 22, of Westport, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers before U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes. Judge Reyes will sentence Cohen on Nov. 8, 2024.

According to court documents, Cohen was identified by law enforcement authorities among the crowd of rioters gathered along a police line on the West Plaza of the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. At approximately 2:28 p.m., numerous members of the mob pushed through barriers and attacked members of the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department engaged in their official duties. At about this time, Cohen was present near the front of the mob up against the West Plaza police line.

At approximately 2:29 p.m., Cohen joined other rioters in breaching the police line and moved toward a group of officers. Cohen then made physical contact with them—pushing and shoving with his hands. Moments later, he resumed shoving and striking them.

At approximately 2:48 p.m., Cohen progressed from the West Plaza up to the Inaugural Stage and Lower West Terrace and entered an area known as the Tunnel where some violent attacks against law enforcement occurred on January 6th. As rioters ahead attacked police officers, Cohen moved into the Tunnel at approximately 2:51 p.m., pushing against a rioter in front in a coordinated “heave-ho” effort against the police line.

Later, Cohen returned to the Tunnel’s entrance but reversed course back into it shortly after. He watched as rioters shined strobe lights at officers, threw objects at them, and used other means to disrupt their line; he observed another rioter deploying chemical spray against police.

Cohen then moved further forward toward where rioters were directly engaged in physical altercations with officers. At about 2:56 p.m., additional rioters entered behind him for another “heave-ho” effort by moving their bodies in unison back and forth. By approximately 3:05 p.m., Cohen had moved back toward the Tunnel’s entrance to rinse his eyes with water due to chemical spray exposure before exiting but remained with other rioters until around 4:01 p.m., assisting efforts to push back into it.

The FBI arrested Cohen on Aug. 9, 2023, in Connecticut.

The U.S Attorney’s Office for D.C., DOJ National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case with assistance from Connecticut's U.S Attorney’s Office.

The FBI's New Haven and Washington Field Offices investigated this case identifying Cohen as BOLO (“Be On The Look Out”) #379 from its photos seeking information; valuable assistance came from U.S Capitol Police & Metropolitan Police Department.

In over three years since Jan .6 , more than1450 individuals have been charged nationwide relatedly including over500 charged feloniously for assaulting/impeding law enforcement; investigations continue ongoingly.

Anyone having tips can call1-800-CALL-FBI(800-225-5324)or visit tips.fbi.gov