A former editor at a New York-based Jewish newspaper, was arrested Thursday for charges related to the attack on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6.
Elliot Resnick was arrested in Manhattan on charges of obstructing police enforcement and assaulting officers. Resnick was a member of The Jewish Press in Brooklyn at the time of the riot.
Resnick, 39, is said to be one of the first to break into the Capitol through the east doors. Court documents state that Resnick was part of a group who rushed up the stairs to get into the building illegally after the East Plaza police line collapsed.
In court documents, an FBI investigator stated that Resnick had posted repeatedly on social media in the lead up to the riot questioning 2020 election results. In a Parler post, he allegedly wrote, “When you flagrantly violate election laws, there should to be consequences.”
The FBI investigator stated that Resnick grabbed and held the arm of a Capitol Police officer using a chemical irritant as a barrier to prevent rioters breaking into the Capitol doors.
According to court documents, Resnick allegedly dragged other rioters into Capitol and remained there for nearly an hour after the doors were opened. Resnick is also alleged that he was seen on Washington Metropolitan police body camera video walking around Capitol grounds after he had left the building.
Resnick, who was working for The Jewish Press at the time of the riot in May 2021, had been employed there since 1994, when he held various positions before becoming chief editor. In May 2021, he left.
A Politico April 2021 article about Resnick’s attendance at the Capitol Jan. 6 was responded to by the editorial board of The Jewish Press. They stated in a statement Resnick was “covering rally and other terrible events” for their paper.
The board stated that Elliot’s views on Trump are not relevant to the Jewish Press. It also did not consider why Elliot’s presence in Politico would justify an article.
Resnick and The Jewish Press didn’t immediately respond to our requests for comment on Thursday night.
According the Justice Department at least 1000 people were arrested in connection to Jan. 6, with more than 320 being charged with impeding or assaulting law enforcement.
