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The feds on Monday busted a Queens Republican district leader who climbed into the Capitol through a broken window during last month’s insurrection — after two tipsters recognized him in news footage.
Philip Grillo, 46, of Glen Oaks, Queens, was taken into custody on a felony charge at his girlfriend’s house after two people saw him on CNN and contacted the FBI, according to federal prosecutors.
He’s a state committee member for Assembly District 24 and calls himself the “Republican Messiah” on Facebook, where he refers to his neighborhood as “Trump’s Hometown District.”
His arrest comes on the same day that the Senate is holding a hearing on the law enforcement failures of Jan. 6 riot when Trump supporters converged on the building as Congress voted to certify the election.
Surveillance footage captured Grillo enter the Capitol by jumping through a broken window, holding a megaphone, at about 2:20 p.m., court papers allege.
About 15 minutes later, another camera recorded Grillo milling about the Rotunda with a large crowd gathered in front of exterior doors that had been barricaded with benches to block rioters from getting in.
The group pushed past three Capitol Police officers, against the doors, forcing them open and allowing their comrades to pour in from outside, prosecutors charge.
Grillo can been seen in the footage wearing a jacket embroidered with Knights of Columbus, St. Anne’s Council #2429, Glen Oaks, New York. He’s a member of the Catholic fraternal organization, and the distinct garment helped authorities track him down, officials said.
Grillo is expected to make his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court.
The GOP leader is charged with knowingly entering a restricted building, disorderly or disruptive conduct and obstruction of an official proceeding.
Grillo’s attorney, Jan Rostal, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
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