Thomas Baranyi Arrested After Admitting to Storming Capitol in TV Interview

A New Jersey man who admitted to storming the U.S. Capitol in a viral television interview has been arrested and charged.

Thomas Baranyi, 28, a former member of the Peace Corps, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday and charged with disorderly or disruptive conduct, NJ.com reported. More serious charges may be pending, the news website added.

Bail was set at $100,000 and Baranyi was released on an unsecured bond after a video hearing before U.S. District Judge Cathy Waldor in Newark. The case was moved to Washington, D.C.

An FBI affidavit cited the widely circulated interview Baranyi gave to WUSA9 reporter Ariane Datil, in which he said he "blitzed" his way into the Capitol and was standing next to Ashli Babbitt when she was shot dead by a police officer.

In the interview, Baranyi identified himself, showed the blood on his hand and explained how it got there.

"We had stormed into the chambers inside and there was a young lady who rushed through the windows," he said.

"A number of police and Secret Service were saying, 'Get back, get down, get out of the way.' She didn't heed the call and, as we kind of raced up to grab people, pull them back, they shot her in the neck."

He continued: "Riot police came in and started ushering us out with sticks."

Baranyi also explained how he had stormed the building.

"We tore through the scaffolding, threw flash bags and tear gas, and blitzed our way in through all the chambers. Just trying to get into Congress or whoever we could get into and tell them we need some kind of investigation into this," he said.

He went on: "It was a joke to them until we got inside, and then of a sudden guns came out. But we're at a point now, it can't be allowed to stand. We have to do something. People have to do something."

According to NJ.com, the affidavit said a review of other video footage of the shooting, as well as the moments before and after, showed a white male matching the photo on Baranyi's New Jersey driver's license and wearing the same Giants sweatshirt and backpack that he was wearing in the WUSA9 interview.

The website also reported that Baranyi's father said on Facebook his son had graduated from the College of New Jersey before joining the Peace Corps. He went into basic training for the U.S. Marine Corps but was discharged.

Babbitt was one of at least five people, including police officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the siege on the Capitol on January 6.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump was impeached for an unprecedented second time, charged with "incitement of insurrection," after he exhorted his supporters to march to the Capitol, where lawmakers had convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.

This week, officials have vowed to seek out and aggressively prosecute those who perpetrated the attack on the Capitol.

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said the Justice Department was considering bringing sedition charges against some of the rioters.

"This is only the beginning," Sherwin said on Tuesday. "We're going to focus on the most significant charges as a deterrent because, regardless of it was just a trespass in the Capitol or if someone planted a pipe bomb, you will be charged and you will be found."

The FBI has been contacted for additional comment.