Former Trump aide charged with beating a police officer with riot shield during siege of Capitol

Video footage alleges to show Mr Klein wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap and that he was “resisting officers, attempting to take items from officers, and assaulting officers with a riot shield.”

Credit: FBI

An aide to Donald Trump has been charged with storming the US Capitol building and beating a police officer with a stolen riot shield, according to a criminal complaint.

Federico Klein, a former Trump campaign employee who worked at the State Department and had Top Secret security clearance, is the first member of the administration arrested in connection with the insurrection on January 6.

The 42-year-old was arrested by the FBI in Virginia for charges including unlawful entry, violent and disorderly conduct, obstructing Congress and law enforcement, and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.

Video footage alleges to show Mr Klein wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap and that he was “resisting officers, attempting to take items from officers, and assaulting officers with a riot shield.”

According to the complaint, Mr Kelin is heard shouting: “We need fresh people, we need fresh people,” as the mob attempted to break through police lines and into the Capitol building.

Mr Klein held a Top Secret security clearance that had been renewed in 2019, according to the FBI, and continued to work at the State Department until January 19, the day before Joe Biden’s inauguration, when he resigned.

His face was posted on an FBI “wanted” list in the aftermath of the insurrection, and two former colleagues identified him.

Cameras worn by police officers show that Mr Klein “quickly pushed his way to the front -left side of the crowd and to the doorway to the Capitol building, where he physically and verbally engaged with the officers holding the line, thereby affecting their ability to disperse the crowd,” the complaint says.

He was told to “back up” seven times by police, but used a stolen riot shield to “shove” them and then jam open the doors to the Capitol building.

Mr Klein was later allegedly seen “fighting the officers in the tunnel of the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol building” and was eventually pepper sprayed by police.

The State Department has not commented on the arrest and Mr Klein could not be reached for comment.