Justice Department provided photos showing accused Jan. 6 rioter, William Gallagher, circled in yellow, at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. On right, Gallagher and son, James Gallagher, circled in red, touch their eyes after being sprayed with chemical irritants by police defending the Capitol.
A Georgia man who prosecutors say made his trip to breach the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 a family affair, has been arrested along with his two adult sons.
William Gallagher, 55, James Gallagher, 22, and Thomas Gallagher, 25, were arrested roughly two hours north of Atlanta in rural Ellijay, Georgia, on Monday.
The FBI said William Gallagher “spontaneously” greeted agents when he opened his door this week, telling them: “I’ve been waiting for you guys.”
The arrest seemed to be a long time in the making for the FBI. According to a statement of facts, an agent first attempted to interview William Gallagher just a few weeks after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, meeting him at his doorstep in Georgia on Jan. 26, 2021.
But Gallagher shut that conversation down after asking for an attorney. The FBI wouldn’t see him again until three years later on March 27, 2024, after an employee of the gated resort community where the Gallaghers live in Ellijay confirmed that he saw William Gallagher “regularly” and was able to positively identify him to an inquiring agent.
That was “Tommy and James’ dad,” the employee said, and then identified the sons who now had shorter haircuts than they did on Jan. 6.
Prosecutors say William Gallagher breached the Capitol before his sons on Jan. 6, managing to push past police — and push at least one officer — with a large crowd near the Capitol Rotunda doors. It was close to 2:40 p.m. when William Gallagher spent a little under two minutes trying to force open the heavy doors and get past police who were left to guard them, court records state.
Justice Department provided photo shows William Gallagher circled in yellow pushing a police officer inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
As a result of those efforts, a police line was broken twice in that location that afternoon, prosecutors allege. They also say William Gallagher managed to place his hands on an officer and “forcibly pull” one off the rotunda doors. With the help of another rioter, Gallagher was allegedly able to move that police officer out of an entryway that needed guarding.
Seemingly to William Gallagher’s credit, the FBI noted in its affidavit that after an altercation with police, he “appeared to apologize to the officer.”
Thomas and James Gallagher are accused of meeting their father inside the Rotunda before heading toward the Senate chamber together and then doubling back 10 minutes later.
The FBI said the men’s father was in the building for 45 minutes; the sons were inside for just under 30 minutes and during that time, both William and James were seen being sprayed with chemical irritants at least once by police trying to repel the crowd.
Though the sons made it inside, prosecutors say they are not charged with any specific acts of violence. The men did chant together while inside, however, screaming: “USA!”
An attorney for the Gallaghers could not immediately be reached for comment.
William Gallagher faces five charges including obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. His sons have been charged with misdemeanors including disorderly conduct. The sons were not charged with obstruction.
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