TEXAS — Andrew Quentin Taake, 32, from Texas, has pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers during the January 6 Capitol riot. Taake admitted to using a can of bear spray and a whip-like weapon against officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The plea agreement detailed Taake’s actions, noting his emergence from a crowd of rioters around 2:02 PM, where he attacked an MPD officer with the whip-like weapon. He later entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing door and was seen in the Crypt and nearby hallways brandishing the same weapon.
Taake faces a potential 20-year maximum sentence for the felony of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon. However, the plea agreement suggests a sentence range of 46 to 57 months.
In a twist of events, Taake’s involvement in the riot came to light after a witness he communicated with on the Bumble dating app while in Washington, D.C., alerted the FBI. Court documents reveal that Taake had admitted to being inside the U.S. Capitol for approximately 30 minutes.
This case is part of the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings following the events at the U.S. Capitol, as authorities continue to pursue those involved in the violent insurrection.