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

WASHINGTON- A Maryland man was sentenced to prison today after he previously pleaded guilty to 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.

Steven Patrick Cook, 25, of Bethesda, Maryland, was sentenced to 28 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden.

According to court documents, Cook violently participated in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. At the Capitol, Cook joined the violent mob as they invaded the Capitol and delayed the certification of the electoral college vote. Once Cook was on the U.S Capitol grounds, he walked on the West Plaza to the Lower West Terrace and eventually entered the Lower West Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement.

While on the West Plaza and moments after rioters broke the police line, Cook pushed and hit multiple police officers. At approximately 2:28 p.m., Cook pushed a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer as the officer was trying to reestablish the police line. Immediately after, Cook grabbed the officer's police baton and punched an unidentified police officer.

Cook continued his assault on police in the Lower West Tunnel, where he confronted more officers protecting an entrance to the Capitol building. Cook returned to the Tunnel three different times and spent over an hour assaulting officers in this area.

At approximately 2:43 p.m., Cook arrived at the Tunnel and immediately pushed his way close to the front of the police line. While he was in the Tunnel, Cook aided the attack on the police building by passing a pole to other rioters. Cook left the Tunnel at approximately 2:52 p.m. only to return a short while later. This time, he took a gas mask from a nearby rioter, put it on his face, and bull-rushed officers. While in the Tunnel, Cook grabbed an officer's baton, removed his gas mask, and continually pushed himself into officers in an effort to break the line. At about 3:05 p.m., Cook left the Tunnel only to return a short while later. When he returned, Cook began pushing multiple times against the police line in unison with other rioters.

The FBI arrested Cook on Sept. 16, 2023, in Maryland.

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 District of Maryland provided valuable assistance.

The FBI's Baltimore and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

In the 42 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 530 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.