Former North Dakota Young Republican leader charged in Jan. 6 riot

Damian Johnston, circled in yellow, is shown inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The photo was included in a criminal complaint against Johnston. (Image from U.S. District Court document)

A former vice chair of the North Dakota Young Republicans has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the U.S. Capitol after his mother posted a video on Facebook.

Damian Johnston faces four charges related to the Jan. 6 riot, including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, according to a complaint dated Sept. 24. Johnston currently lives in Appleton, Wisconsin, according to court documents.

Johnston resigned his position with the Young Republicans in February, according to a statement he posted on his Facebook account. His father, Daniel Johnston of Kathryn, is a former Republican state House member running for election in District 24.

Damian Johnston was released after a Sept. 26 court hearing. His next appearance is set for Oct.10 via Zoom video conference. His first hearing was in federal court in Wisconsin. The Oct. 10 hearing is in the District of Columbia.

Krista Halla-Valdes, a public defender in Wisconsin, was listed at Johnston's attorney for the first court appearance. She said in an email that Johnston would be assigned an attorney from the District of Columbia.

According to the complaint against Johnston, some who knew Johnston and his family provided a tip to the FBI on Sept. 18, 2023, that a video posted by Johnston's mother on Facebook showed Damian Johnston at or near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Damian Johnston was still living in North Dakota at that time. The FBI then obtained Johnston's driver's license photograph from the North Dakota Department of Transportation and compared it to images taken at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Johnston is seen entering the Capitol at 3:08 p.m., the complaint said. Johnston could be seen speaking into a microphone, wearing an earpiece and taking photos with his cellphone. He left the building at 3:17 p.m.

Johnston did not reply to a message sent to his Facebook account or an email. A call to what had been listed as Johnston's phone number did not go through.

Andrew Nyhus, executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party, did not have a comment Monday morning.

Daniel Johnston did reply to an email and voicemail Monday.

Messages sent to the North Dakota Young Republicans also were not returned.

Congress had convened on Jan. 6, 2021, to certify the vote count of the Electoral College of the 2020 presidential election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated Republican Donald Trump.

The complaint said Johnston had attended the "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse, near the White House.

Trump spoke at the rally. Johnston was identified as wearing a red baseball cap with "Trump" written on the front.

By the time Johnston entered the Capitol, glass in the door was cracked and nearby windows were shattered.

The riot forced members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence, acting as Senate president, to evacuate the chambers at 2:20 p.m.

The charges against Johnston are:

In a statement, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn called Jan. 6 "one of the darkest days in modern American history."

"These rioters should all be held accountable in a court of law," Goldwyn said in a statement. "Every single Republican running for office should be denouncing Johnston's actions."