‘Baked Alaska’ to face charges over riot role

WASHINGTON — Far-right media personality Tim Gionet, who calls himself “Baked Alaska,” was arrested by the FBI for his involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol, a law enforcement official said.

Gionet was arrested by federal agents in Houston on Saturday, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter before the public release of a criminal complaint and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress was meeting to vote to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral win. Five people died in the mayhem.

Gionet faces charges of violent and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

FBI Special Agent Nicole Miller said in an affidavit filed in the case that Gionet streamed live for about 27 minutes from inside the Capitol and could be heard encouraging other protesters not to leave, cursing and saying “I’m staying,” “1776, baby,” and “I won’t leave, guys. Don’t worry.”

She wrote that Gionet entered various offices and when told by law enforcement officers to move, identified himself as a member of the media. Miller wrote that Gionet then asked officers where to go before cursing a law officer while alleging that the officer shoved him, then leaving the building.

Gionet also posted video that showed Trump supporters in Make America Great Again and God Bless Trump hats milling around inside the Capitol and taking selfies with officers who calmly asked them to leave the premises.

The Trump supporters talked among themselves, laughed and told the officers and one another, “This is only the beginning.”