Macomb auto worker admits to Jan. 6 role
Feds say Daniel Herendeen intended to disrupt or disturb Congress session
A Macomb County auto worker who was among those charged with taking part in the destructive Jan. 6 insurrection of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. has agreed to a plea-bargain deal that calls from him to serve 6 months in prison.
According to court records filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Daniel Herendeen will also allow federal investigators access to his social media accounts.
An FBI investigation found Herendeen, 43, of Chesterfield Township, and Robert “Bobby” Schornak, 39, of Roseville, traveled to the Capitol and were among those that stormed the building while wearing body armor and posted pictures and videos of themselves inside to social media.
“(Herendeen) knew at the time he entered the U.S. Capitol Building that the building was restricted, that he did not have permission to enter the building and the defendant did so with the intent to impede, disrupt, or disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress,” Acting U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips wrote in a document.
The two Macomb men could have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the original charges Schornak agreed to the plea bargain in November.
The deal further calls for each defendant to pay $500 in restitution for the $1.4 million in damages to the Capitol caused by the protesters.
Both men were initially charged with obstruction of Congress, aiding and abetting, knowingly entering a restricted area, and disorderly conduct. They now face only the entering a restrict area charge.
The two, described by the FBI as friends, were arrested in March. They drove to Capitol together, according to records.
Authorities allege Herendeen and Schornak were among those who traveled to Washington, D.C. in support of former President Donald Trump and forced their way into the Capitol, where legislators convened to certify the election results, according to the FBI. Photos and video posted on social media helped investigators build a case against the pair.
Investigators said they received tips on the pair’s involvement and reviewed Facebook messages where they discussed their intent to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally.
According to the FBI, Schornak and Herendeen communicated on Facebook talking about the rally.
SCHORNAK: Cant stay home, I would not be able to live w myself
HERENDEEN: That’s how I feel. I’m supposed to go with , but it sounds like he might back out. I heard it might be hard to get to DC. I go regardless.
SCHORNAK: Hard, nothing easy ever worth doing. Just call me bro
Herendeen was also captured on video inside the Capitol. While the video has not yet been released, there are still images in court documents that show him in the Capitol’s Crypt in body armor, in addition to a military style backpack, black goggles, a mask and a baseball hat.
Many of the videos were posted by Herendeen on his own Facebook page. One post, which has since been taken down, included the caption “front line of the attack.”
Herendeen is the third person from Michigan to plead guilty to their involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Twelve people from the state have been charged so far in connection with the attack.
The agreement gives law enforcement officials access to review any social media accounts operated by Herendeen for statements and postings around Jan. 6, 2021, and conducting an interview regarding the events around that time frame.
Sentencing guidelines, based upon his offense level and prior criminal record, show Herendeen could be sentenced from no time to six months behind bars. His previous convictions include operating while impaired in 1995 and 2012, and domestic assault in 2013.