Man Who Took a Selfie in Senate Chamber on January 6 Pleads Guilty to One Charge, Faces 20 Years in Prison

 

A Florida man who took a selfie in the Senate chamber on January 6 pleaded guilty to one charge on Wednesday and is facing 20 years in prison.

38-year-old Paul Hodgkins was originally hit with a 5-count indictment that included obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, but he struck a deal with the feds and pleaded guilty to one charge of obstruction of an official proceeding.

According to court documents, Hodgkins entered the senate chamber on January 6 at 2:50 PM, walked among the desks, waved a Trump flag, took a selfie and peacefully exited the building by 3:15 PM.

Although the one charge carries 20 years in prison Hodgkins may serve a recommended sentence of between 15-21 months.

Mr. Hodgkins also agreed to pay $2,000 in restitution for simply wandering around the senate chamber for 25 minutes.

Hodgkins was arrested in Tampa, Florida in February after a tipster called the FBI to say they recognized him in the selfie he took in the senate chamber.

The tipster personally knew Hodgkins but hadn’t spoken to him in many years. A friend of a friend reportedly saw the selfie posted to Parler and tipped off the FBI.

Hodgkins told the FBI that he traveled to DC by bus from Florida to see Trump speak.