Texas Man Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON - A Texas man was sentenced to prison today after he was convicted of assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions 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.

Kyle Douglas McMahan, 42, of Watauga, Texas, was sentenced to 19 months in prison, 12 months of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. McMahan previously pleaded guilty to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers on June 28, 2024.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at around 2:00 p.m., McMahan was among a group of rioters that breached a police line on the east perimeter of the U.S. Capitol building, formed, in part, by a series of bike rack barriers. After breaching the line, the mob surged toward the East Rotunda steps. There, McMahan pushed a bike rack barrier to the side that was in his path.

By approximately 2:15 p.m., the mob of rioters had surged up the East Rotunda steps and were attempting to force their way into the building through the East Rotunda doors. Near the doors were positioned a group of United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers who were attempting to keep the rioters out of the building. Around this time, McMahan pushed a USCP officer who was preventing rioters from entering the building.

McMahan then entered the Capitol building via the East Rotunda doors at about 2:41 p.m. and made his way into the Rotunda, where he pumped his fists and greeted other rioters with high fives and hugs. He then headed toward the Senate Chamber, gesturing for other rioters to follow him. McMahan and other rioters traveled as far as the hallway outside the Old Senate Chamber, where a line of police officers halted their advance. In response, other rioters pushed against the police line as officers prevented them from further advancing toward the Senate Chamber.

McMahan retreated from this area and made his way back to the Rotunda. He then walked to a vestibule east of the Rotunda, spoke with other rioters, and made walked toward a police line, gesturing for other rioters to follow. There, at the police line, rioters scuffled with police officers, and McMahan grabbed an officer's right hand. McMahan remained near the police line while a group of rioters attempted to overwhelm the officers guarding the west threshold of the Rotunda. McMahan pushed the rioter in front of him toward the police, adding his strength to the rest of the mob.

Police officers later formed a line around the rioters, including McMahan, who remained in the Rotunda and began moving them toward the East Rotunda doors. As a police officer attempted to expel another rioter, McMahan grabbed the officer's arm. The officer shouted, "Get off me! Get off me!" to which McMahan replied, "Don't f- touch him! Don't f- touch him!"

At around 3:20 p.m., officers started expelling the remaining rioters by ushering them outside the East Rotunda doors. McMahan was in the vestibule as rioters surged in and pushed back an outnumbered USCP officer. While rioters streamed into the building, McMahan pulled a different officer away from the incoming rioters, impeding his response. McMahan then tried to move further inside the building before a USCP officer attempted to halt his advance by placing a hand on his chest. McMahan slapped the officer's hand away.

McMahan left the Capitol through the East Rotunda doors at around 3:35 p.m. but lingered on the other side as police ushered other rioters out of the building. He remained on the Capitol grounds until around 6:30 p.m.

The FBI arrested McMahan on Dec. 6, 2023, in Texas.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas provided valuable assistance.

The FBI's Dallas and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.