Jesse James Rumson, the man who participated in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot while dressed in a panda costume, has been convicted of assaulting a law enforcement officer. He waived his right to a jury trial and instead opted for a bench trial, where he was convicted on all eight counts by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. Rumson assaulted and resisted Prince George’s County Cpl. Scott Ainsworth and engaged in disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
According to prosecutors, Rumson was among the first twenty rioters to access the Capitol building after breaking a door in the Senate wing on January 6, 2021. Photos from that day show Rumson wearing a panda costume head and carrying a white flag with the message “Don’t tread on me.” He was referred to as “#SeditionPanda” in online communities. Prosecutors presented photographic evidence showing rioters helping remove the handcuffs from Rumson’s wrists after he was apparently handcuffed and forced out of the Capitol through another door.
Once freed from the handcuffs, Rumson allegedly ran through the crowd outside the Capitol and towards a line of officers defending the building. He then grabbed an officer’s mask, causing the officer’s head and neck to be forced back and upwards. Rumson was arrested in February 2023, more than two years after the assault on the Capitol. Officer Ainsworth testified about the assault by Rumson last week, according to NBC News.
The Justice Department has prosecuted over 1,200 criminal cases in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol assault. More than 700 individuals have pleaded guilty to various charges, and scores more have been convicted. Rumson’s case is part of the ongoing effort to hold those responsible for the violence and chaos on January 6, 2021, accountable for their actions. The conviction of Rumson for assaulting a law enforcement officer is a significant step in seeking justice for the events that unfolded on that day.
In conclusion, Jesse James Rumson’s conviction for assaulting a law enforcement officer during the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot highlights the ongoing legal efforts to hold individuals accountable for their roles in the violence and chaos that occurred on that day. The evidence presented in court, including photographic proof of Rumson’s actions, contributed to his guilty verdict on all eight counts. With over 1,200 criminal cases prosecuted in connection with the Capitol assault, the Justice Department continues to pursue justice for those involved in the events of January 6.
