Former Topeka City Council candidate faces federal charges from violence at U.S. Capitol

TOPEKA — Federal agents on Friday arrested Will Pope, a former Topeka City Council candidate, for federal charges related to the Jan. 6 violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

A graphic video shows Pope draped in a flag and standing in a doorway on the east side of the Capitol as police struggle to gain control of an angry mob. Officers can be seen reaching past Pope to spray tear gas, and Pope’s stars-and-stripes hat is knocked to the ground in the chaos.

In a now-deleted Facebook post from after the breach, Pope wrote: “The people wanted their house back, so they took it.”

In an exchange of text messages after the video surfaced, Pope said he remains loyal to his country. He couldn’t be reached for comment Friday because he remains behind bars.

Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/2021/02/12/former-topeka-city-council-candidate-faces-federal-charges-from-violence-at-u-s-capitol/


Will Pope, in red, holds a flag inside the Senate Carriage Entrance on the east side of the U.S. Capitol during Wednesday's riot. Pope ran for the Topeka City Council in 2018. (Screen capture from Jayden X video on YouTube)