A West Virginia man and his friend have been charged with conspiring to impede or injure police while he was on the U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021.
The charges against Kevin G. Moore, 51, of Logan were described in a superseding indictment and announced in a press release from the United States attorneys office for the District of Columbia. Moore’s initial appearance lasted a few minutes Monday in Huntington in the federal court system’s Southern District of West Virginia.
His codefendant, Bart Gore, 51, of Dandridge, Tennessee, was previously charged for his role in the events of January 6, 2021. Gore, a former Logan County resident now living in east Tennessee, was charged last Dec. 7 with five counts accusing him of disorderly conduct and entering restricted areas where Congress and the vice president were working.
The mob storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 disrupted the constitutional duty of counting Electoral College votes and prompted the evacuations of representatives, senators and then-Vice President Mike Pence. One woman was fatally shot while trying to climb into the chambers, three others died from “medical emergencies” and more than 100 police officers were injured.
In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Moore and Gore are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restrictive building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.
According to court documents, federal prosecutors allege that Gore and Moore used Facebook Messenger to send messages, photos, and other digital media regarding the 2020 presidential election and to potentially commit violence and coordinate plans for the Jan. 6, 2021, events in Washington, D.C.
Among their first messages about the events came Dec. 12, 2020, when Gore messaged Moore to say “Hey punk!! Look at my post on Facebook. I joined the Proud Boys a couple months ago. Time to put boots on the ground. We should be in D.C. right now.” Moore responded by asking, “How can I join.”
In a Dec.21 message leading up to their trip, Gore told Moore, “I’d love to be the one to capture Obama or Hillary. I’d strip them naked and beat them with a belt and switch. Then I’d rest and beat them some more.” Moore responded, “Me too it will be a beautiful day.”
In online communications after that, the two discussed ongoing activities by the Proud Boys militia group and their desire to participate. “It’s past time people got to fight back,” Moore told Gore.
Later in the same conversation Gore told Moore about his desire to cause harm to federal investigation agencies and former President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and William Barr, who had been President Trump’s attorney general. “I think we go for the head of the snake. The FBI, the CIA, Obama, Clinton’s [sic], Barr, and anyone else. I don’t want to live in a communist country.”
Moore responded with a thumbs up.
Gore continued, “I’m so ready to kick the lungs loose in these mfers.” Moore responded, “They all need to go down.” Gore then stated, “I’m ready to do my part. I don’t plan on living in a communist country.”
On Jan. 1, 2021, Moore messaged Gore a question about whether they would find any place to stay on their trip to Washington, D.C. Gore responded by saying he had just been thinking about that and continued by saying, “I’m coming home Saturday. We will look. I’m bringing an AR with me.” Moore replied, “Sounds good.”
On Jan. 6, 2021, Gore and Moore walked over to the U.S. Capitol and made their way to the northwest lawn. The two men attempted to climb the northwest stairs and were exposed to a chemical irritant. Another rioter provided the two with safety goggles. Gore and Moore then climbed the Northwest Stairs a second time and arrived in the northwest courtyard around the time of the first breach of the Capitol.
When the two men first arrived at the top, Gore took a video and said, “We made it to the top. Ready to go in. Here we come.” Later in the video Gore said, “I’ve been pepper sprayed, tear gassed, but I made it.” Gore and Moore entered the Capitol through the Parliamentarian Door about 2:47 p.m. Before entering, Gore recorded a video where he said to Moore, “I guess we should see what this is all about.” The two then entered the Capitol.
Days later, on Jan. 12, 2021, Gore messaged, “I want to go back.” Moore responded, “She got everything on lock down.” Gore continued, “I wasn’t satisfied. I would have been satisfied if they brought Nancy’s head out on a stick.” Moore responded, “I think so [sic] of the people were looking for her. I’ve seen the videos, I can’t believe we didn’t see any of this.”