Two western Pa. men arrested after attending Capitol riot

The men are among hundreds who are expected to be charged for their role in the Jan. 6 riot.

• An-Li Herring/WESA
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  An-Li became a reporter while completing her law degree at Stanford. In law school, she wrote about housing affordability, criminal justice and economic development, among other topics. She also served as the intern to NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg in Washington, DC, helping Ms. Totenberg to cover the U.S. Supreme Court and other legal matters. Originally from Pittsburgh, An-Li interned with the investigations team at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before joining 90.5 WESA in August

 John Minchillo / AP Photo

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington.

(Pittsburg) — Two men from western Pennsylvania have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Tuesday statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for western Pennsylvania.

Jorden Mink of Oakdale, Allegheny County, and Matthew Perna of Sharon, Mercer County, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, the statement said, although it noted that the prosecutions will proceed in Washington, D.C.

Mink faces six charges, including unlawful and violent entry onto the Capitol grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, property destruction, and theft. Perna is accused of knowingly entering the Capitol grounds without lawful authority and engaging in disorderly conduct.

In the days following the attack, Perna apologized for his participation, the New Castle News reported. But the outlet noted that Perna also expressed hope that President Donald Trump would remain in office for the next four years.

The men are among hundreds who are expected to be charged for their role in the Jan. 6 riot. Five people died as a result of the four-hour attack, during which rioters vandalized the Capitol and assaulted police officers.

On Tuesday, Scott Brady, the U.S. Attorney for western Pennsylvania, said his office “is working closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia to identify those residents of western Pennsylvania who violated federal law in our nation’s Capitol on January 6.”

“The charges announced today against Jorden Mink and Matthew Perna are the result of this collaboration,” Brady said. “Together with our federal, state and local partners, we will ensure that our community is safe from those who would incite or commit further violent acts. Such criminal activity will be met with swift justice.”

A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.

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