The 52-year-old Confederate flag-bearer, who stormed the Capitol with his 24-year-old son, is found GUILTY of disorderly conduct and entering a restricted building Jan. 6: both men face up to 20 years in prison
- Kevin Seefried and his son Hunter were convicted of trespassing, obstruction of a government proceeding and disorderly conduct
- The pair face up to 20 years in prison for their disability convictions, although they are not expected to receive the maximum sentence
- Capital Police Officer Eugene Goodman testified against the couple, describing Kevin as the “complete opposite of pleasant.”
A man who stormed the US capital while waving a giant Confederate flag with his son has been found guilty of his role in the Jan. 6 riots.
Kevin Seefried, 52, and his son Hunter Seefried, 24, were both convicted by a judge on Wednesday afternoon of trespassing, obstructing an official process and disorderly conduct after they waived their right to a jury trial.
The Delaware father-son duo could face up to 20 years in prison on their disability charges alone, although it is speculated they will not receive that maximum sentence.
Hunter was let off the hook on a property damage charge.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Trevor McFadden — an official appointed by President Trump — who previously acquitted a New Mexico government official of the January 6 destruction charge.
The trial included testimony from Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who successfully distracted the Seefrieds and a mob of rioters from the Senate chambers during the riot.
Kevin Seefried carries a large Confederate flag through the US Capital Building on January 6, 2021
Kevin Seefried (second from left) and his son Hunter Seefried (third from left) face a Capital Police officer on January 6, 2021
The Seefrieds became two of the most prominent faces of the Jan. 6 riots after Kevin was photographed across the capital with a large Confederate flag slung over his shoulder — a photo that became emblematic of the chaos of the day.
Dramatic photos from the riot showed Kevin and his son Hunter intimidating the capital’s police and footage showed them entering the capital by pushing and climbing through a broken window.
The pair were among the first rioters to breach the capital, and as they waved their oversized Confederate flag, they literally became standard-bearers for the insurgents.
Kevin Seefried leaves court after being found guilty of trespassing, obstruction of an official proceeding and disorderly conduct on Wednesday afternoon
Kevin Seefried and his son Hunter Seefried after their guilty verdicts on Wednesday afternoon
Jäger Seefried broke down in tears as he left the courtroom after his guilty verdict on Wednesday afternoon
In his testimony, Officer Goodman recalled confronting the pair in the group of rioters he lured away from the Senate chambers.
He described Kevin as “very angry” and said he “screamed” and was the “complete opposite of pleasant”.
Goodman told the court he remembered Kevin swinging the base of his flagpole at him and making a “jabbing motion” move him away.
Goodman also recalled a sneering smugness from Hunter, who described a “smirking look on his face, like a ‘we will’ look on his face.”
Goodman won the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions on Jan. 6.
Capitol Hill Police Officer Eugene Goodman (right) testified against the Seefrieds during the trial. He recalled the couple who violently confronted him on January 6, 2021
A poster wanted by the FBI for Kevin Seefried for his participation in the January 6 capital riots
By forgoing their right to a jury – a tactic used by a number of other January 6 defendants – the Seefrieds’ trial was heard by Judge McFadden, who rendered a verdict on the basis of the proceeding.
McFadden found the prosecution’s charge that Hunter used physical force to enter the capital unfounded, arguing that the windowpane he smashed to enter was already broken.
“Here, I think the job was already done by the time the defendant acted,” McFadden said, describing the broken window pane Hunter broke as “completely useless” when he got there.
Wednesday’s ruling marks the latest conviction in the more than 800 indictments filed by the Justice Department.
Kevin Seefried will be sentenced on September 16th.
Hunter was seen crying after the sentencing.