Chicago Police Officer Karol Chwiesiuk Appears In Court On Capitol Riot Charges
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer appeared on court Wednesday onn federal charges in his alleged involvement in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
Karol Chwiesiuk must now go to the prosecutor's office to look at the evidence before his next hearing.
Chwiesiuk faces five federal charges and through his attorney says he was practicing his First Amendment rights.
According to the charges filed in U.S. District Court in D.C. in June of last year, Chwiesiuk sent a friend a text message on Jan. 6 saying he was in D.C., and claiming:
"Knocked out a commie last night. Don't tell."
Other messages he sent that day included:
"There's so many blacks here I'm actually in disbelief."
"We inside the capitol lmfao"
"N**** don't snitch"
Also in the federal charges, authorities said photos show he entered the office of Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon.)
Another photo appears to show Chwiesiuk outside with the same clothing but also with a Chicago Police logo clearly visible on his sweatshirt.
The federal complaint shows that agents used geolocation data to track his moves to and from D.C. that week.
