CRIME
Man Running To Replace Former Rep. George Santos Convicted On Jan. 6 Charges
U.S. District Court for D.C.
A man running to fill the seat vacated by expelled former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has been convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Philip Sean Grillo, 49, of Queens, was convicted Tuesday of one felony and five misdemeanor charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
According to prosecutors, Grillo entered the Capitol building through a broken window, and was captured on video stating, Im here to stop the steal. Its our F— House! Grillo was also part of a group that forced their way past U.S. Capitol Police officers to exit the rotunda, then pushed past other officers to open exterior doors and allow additional rioters into the building.
Grillo proceeded to enter and exit the Capitol three more times and can be seen in multiple instances pushing up against police officers, the Justice Department said in a statement.
In another recording from his cell phone, he can be seen smoking marijuana inside the Capitol. In this video, Grillo stated, among other things, ‘Our House!’ He asks, ‘Whos smoking grass?’ and, ‘Can I get a hit it of that s—?’
During the trial, Grillo testified that he had no idea Congress met inside the Capitol building.
Grillo, a former GOP leader in Queens, announced in May he planned to run a primary campaign in New York’s 3rd Congressional district to unseat former Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from Congress this week.
U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth has not yet set a date for Grillo’s sentencing.
TMX contributed to this article.
