Fired Chicago-area CEO pleads guilty in Jan. 6 Capitol rioting
By: A fired Chicago-area CEO on Tuesday pleaded guilty in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Bradley Rukstales of Inverness, Ill. pleaded guilty in federal court to willfully and knowingly parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building, according to The Chicago Tribune.
He is facing up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to the newspaper.
Rukstales, who was the CEO of marketing data company Cogensia, was placed on a leave of absence from the company two days after the riot.
Cogensia later announced that it had terminated Rukstales, and condemned the actions of Jan. 6.
Rukstales later apologized for his actions, saying his decision to enter the Capitol was “the single worst personal decision of my life; I have no excuse for my actions and wish that I could take them back.”
Rukstales in March pleaded not guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, according to the Department of Justice.
Rukstales was in a crowd of individuals near the House Atrium that was “making loud noises, and kicking chairs, throwing an unknown liquid substance at officers, and spraying an unknown substance at officers," according to an affidavit from a Capitol Police officer,
Rukstales and five other people “willfully refused” Capitol Police officers’ orders to leave. All six were placed under arrest.