His Helmet and Tactical Vest Read 'PRESS,' But He Just Went to the U.S. Capitol to Storm It, Feds...

A California man spotted wearing a black helmet and tactical vest emblazoned with the word “PRESS” used that outfit as a subterfuge to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, federal prosecutors claim in a recently unsealed complaint.

Court records show that prosecutors initially attempted to arrest Matthew Thomas Purse, from Irvine, California, in mid-June, only to be rebuffed by U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey, who had not been satisfied that he was not a member of the press.

In a memorandum opinion dated June 15, the judge found that the government’s application did “not provide an adequate factual basis to find probable cause to believe that Purse had the requisite intent for some, if not all, of those crimes, especially given his markings as a member of the press (whether he meets the government’s definition of ‘being associated with the press’ or not) and the lack of any statements or actions by him that he was anything other than an observer of the events at the Capitol on January 6th.”

A little less than a two weeks later, prosecutors filed a sealed complaint, and they succeeded in securing an arrest warrant on Friday. The unsealing of Purse’s charges was first reported by BuzzFeed News. Purse faces four federal charges: entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.