Trump Supporter Involved in Capitol Attack Apprehended on Kidnapping and Assault Charges: The John Banuelos Case
A supporter of Donald Trump who discharged a firearm during the 2021 Capitol attack was recently apprehended on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault in Illinois. John Banuelos, 40, was taken into custody in Cicero, near 29th Street and Cicero Avenue, on October 17. The arrest stemmed from a warrant issued in Salt Lake County on October 1 for aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault charges.
Banuelos was previously identified by online "sedition hunters" and reported to the FBI in February 2021 for his involvement in the Capitol incident. He was also linked to a fatal stabbing in Salt Lake City on July 4, 2021, where he claimed self-defense and was not charged. Despite being identified by citizen investigators, Banuelos was not arrested by the FBI until March 2024, following concerns about the volume of tips received after the Capitol riot.
In a Vice News video capturing the Capitol riot, Banuelos can be seen with a gun on his waistband and firing it into the air. He was eventually detained pretrial in March 2024 after prosecutors deemed his actions "mind-numbingly dangerous." Following his arrest, Banuelos predicted that Trump would be re-elected and pardon Jan. 6 rioters, a prediction that came true when the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case on January 21, 2025, the day after Trump's inauguration.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan expressed concerns about the dismissal, stating that the pardon could not erase the violence and chaos caused by the mob. She emphasized the importance of upholding justice despite political influences. Prosecutors involved in the case did not provide immediate comments on the matter.