New York plumber Daniel Christmann pleads guilty to January 6 violation

Images via FBI court record.

A failed New York State Senate candidate, who broadcast his participation in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol from his campaign Instagram account, has admitted illegally entering the building.

Daniel Christman40, accused of joining the Mafia donald trump Supporters who raided the Capitol that day and entered the building through a broken window. As Law&Crime previously reported, he described himself as a “crazy plumber” and a “3% soldier,” and he allegedly bragged to friends on social media about storming the Capitol before urging them to delete the incriminating video .

He pleaded guilty Monday to a single count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, an offense that carries a maximum of six months behind bars.

He admitted traveling from New York to DC to attend Trump’s so-called “Stop the Steal” rally and then following the crowd from the rally to the Capitol. According to the prosecutor Jason CrawfordChristmann saw an “Area Closed” sign as he approached the Capitol, as well as fences and a metal barrier that had been knocked down.

Christmann also acknowledged that as he headed toward the building’s Upper West Terrace, he saw rioters clashed with law enforcement and witnessed officers use chemical spray to force crowds back. He also admitted to hearing alarms blaring in the Capitol as he entered the building through a broken window on the Senate wing doors at around 3:15 p.m., about an hour after the initial break-in.

He stayed in the Capitol for about three minutes, Crawford said, and made his way to the Capitol crypt. He also entered an office and watched through the window as law enforcement outside attempted to prevent anyone else from entering the building.

He then returned to the Senate Wing doorway and exited through a window opposite the one he had entered, the alarm ringing the entire time. Christmann also took some pictures and videos while in the Capitol and posted some on his social media accounts, where he “numerously” admitted entering the Capitol.

At the beginning of his hearing before the US District Judge Colleen Kollar-KotellyChristmann hinted that his decision to plead guilty may have been out of impatience rather than remorse.

“I’m just here to get on with my life,” Christmann said after the judge first addressed him.

“I want to make sure you understand what you’re getting into,” Kollar-Kotelly, a bill clinton Appointment, responded and signaled that the plea process requires that a judge be satisfied that a defendant is making his plea knowingly and voluntarily and not under duress.

“Although it didn’t take long and it was not my intention to pose a threat, I was in the building and how do I get out?” Christmann asked somewhat rhetorically during his conversation with the judge. “Let’s face the music and move on, that’s my stance.”

Christmann got emotional after his lawyer Steven Metcalf, informed the judge that Christmann is currently a plaintiff in a personal injury case because he fell into a hole at a construction site. Christmann told the judge that he would need knee surgery and a hip replacement as a result.

“I’m in therapy for the injury,” said an audibly emotional Christian man. “I’ve dedicated my entire life to being the best plumber in the world and I can’t do more.”

“I’m sure that’s not easy to accept,” Kollar-Kotelly replied.

Christmann’s political activity was not discussed in the hearing. He previously ran as the Libertarian candidate for President of the United States in 2020, but did not carry the party’s nomination. Later that year he ran as the New York State Senate candidate for the New Moderate Party, losing to the Democratic and Working Families Party candidates Julia Salazarwhich received more than 97% of the votes.

However, Christmann’s Facebook page hints at a run for New York City Council public data Do not list him as a current candidate.

“Is there some kind of muzzle, can I talk about it?” Christmann asked the judge as the trial drew to a close. Kollar-Kotelly reminded the defendant that a sentencing hearing was pending and that anything he said could be used against the prosecution in a sentencing memorandum.

Sentencing scheduled for April 26, 2023.

[Images via FBI court filings.]

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