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Josiah Colt: Idaho rioter seen dangling from Senate balcony begs forgiveness, says he got 'caught up in the moment'

'In the moment, I thought I was doing the right thing. I realize now that my actions were inappropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America,' Josiah Colt said

For 34-year-old Idaho man Josiah Colt, passions ran high on January 6, 2021, when he stormed into the US Capitol with fellow Donald Trump supporters. MAGA fans gathered and violently entered the Capitol building in a bid to overturn Trump's election defeat. He then went online bragging on his social media that he is "all over the news now", and called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a "treasonous b***h". 

"I just got in the Capitol building," he is seen breathlessly bragging in the video. Pictures captured from the Capitol siege that day show him sitting in Pelosi's chair and defiantly raising a fist. "I hopped down into the chamber".

But he was soon going to go back on his own actions. The rioter who was photographed hanging from the balcony of the Senate Chamber, according to a report on Friday, begged for forgiveness. He has now apologized and admitted that he "brought shame upon myself," adding that "in the moment, I thought I was doing the right thing". 

"I love America, I love the people, I didn’t hurt anyone and I didn’t cause any damage in the Chamber. I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair. I said my peace then I helped a gentleman get to safety that was injured then left."

"While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to not do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in its place. We’re still on sacred ground."

"And sincerely apologize to the American people. I recognize my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country. In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing. I realize now that my actions were inappropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho."

"My intention wasn’t to put a stain on our great Country’s Democratic process."

In a video posted on Instagram, Colt said “I just got in the Capitol building, I hopped down into the chamber.” Colt also went to say he was in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s chair. However, Colt was actually in the Senate Chamber in a seat reserved for Vice President Mike Pence. Colt has since deleted his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and is reportedly speaking with his lawyer to see what his next step going forward should be. 

This is not Colt's first brush with the law. According to a report, he was arrested in Ada County in 2012 for obstructing police and was sentenced to two months in jail. 

Five people died during the riot, including U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who was "injured while physically engaging with protesters", police said. Hence, many on Twitter have already deemed him a terrorist. "Terrorists like Josiah Colt, after all they did, claim they did nothing. Didn’t break anything, didn’t do this or that, but show their ignorance by not even knowing what the word means. You caused terror. You terrorized US officials," one tweeted. "#JosiahColt is a straight up terrorist who entered the capitol building with intent to do harm," another added. 

Others on social media also demand punishment for him. "Josiah Colt, you're a right winged extremists IDIOT! You're also. Too bad Vonda Evens is a district court judge out of Detroit, MI. (Shes a ball-sy middle aged black judge on bench for many years. She'd chew you up and spit you out. 10 years federal prison for you!"