2 Pennsylvania brothers plead guilty to assaulting officers during Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol

Matthew and Andrew Valentin of Stroudsburg recently pleaded guilty to multiple felonies for their part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including spraying a chemical irritant and throwing a chair at officers.

Two brothers from Stroudsburg recently pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges stemming from their participation in the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol.

Matthew Valentin, 31, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

Andrew Valentin, 26, pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and a second felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

According to court documents, the two brothers were part of the crowd on the West Plaza of the Capitol that rushed the police line while yelling “push, push, push.” The two then pushed a metal barricade into the line of Capitol police officers.

The officers retreated and formed a new protective line on the south side of the West Plaza. Matthew then approached the line and sprayed a chemical irritant towards the officers. 

The brothers then moved to the Upper West Terrace where Metropolitan Police Officers were assisting the Capitol police. Matthew, along with others, rushed the line of officers. Matthew grabbed a police baton and attempted to rip it out of the officer’s hands.

Later, while officers were in a line protecting the front set of stairs leading from the West Plaza to the Upper West Terrace, Andrew threw a folding chair at the line of officers, striking one of the shields.

The FBI arrested the brothers in February. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2025.

To date, more than 100 Pennsylvanians have been arrested in connection to the Capitol attack. Approximately 55 have been sentenced. Three died (two by suicide) while awaiting sentencing.