48-year-old Nathan Wayne Entrekin has now become one of the latest members of the Trump cult to get arrested by federal authorities for participating in the deadly January riot at the U.S. Capitol. Notably, Entrekin filmed his involvement in the riot — and addressed his mother in remarks that were captured on tape, as though he was putting together the footage for her. While at the Capitol, Entrekin also wore a Roman gladiator costume, and the costume helped authorities identify Entrekin in footage from the riot. Now, he has been criminally charged with knowingly entering or remaining on restricted grounds in addition to violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol.
Entrekin’s charges are among the comparatively lighter ones that Capitol rioters are facing. Other charges that have been issued in riot-connected cases include obstruction of an official proceeding, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. Meanwhile, other rioters also face criminal charges for assaulting law enforcement personnel who were attempting to defend the Capitol that day. During the violence, some 140 officers were injured. D.C. officer Michael Fanone has publicly shared how he was dragged by rioters away from a group of officers, beaten, and repeatedly tased at the base of his skull, leaving him with lasting injuries. Again — these were supporters of Donald Trump inflicting this disturbing violence. Pretending otherwise is false.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed against him, Entrekin apparently “stood out” to authorities “due to the outfit he chose to wear on January 6, 2021, in part because of the temperature, and in part because of the unique nature of the costume.” Entrekin apparently told an interviewer of some sort at the riot that he intended to dress as Captain Moroni, a figure from the religious text known as the Book of Mormon. Entrekin told that interviewer that “Captain Moroni” had “sought to defend the liberties of his people—the Nephites—from another group—the Amalickiahites—that wanted to overthrow democracy and install a king.” Although Entrekin no doubt imagined some kind of parallel, there was obviously no actual connection between the concept of the ascent of a king and the then-impending inauguration of Joe Biden as president.
Authorities obtained footage that Entrekin apparently captured and in which he addressed his mother from his phone. At one point on video, Entrekin said, “I made it, Mom. I made it to the top. Mom, look, I made it to the top, to the top here.” Entrekin also carried a flag of sorts consisting of a piece of white cloth on a wooden dowel. On the cloth, he wrote a passage from the Book of Mormon, reading: “IN MEMORY OF OUR GOD, OUR RELIGION, AND FREEDOM, AND OUR PEACE, OUR WIVES, AND OUR CHILDREN.”
