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Nebraska native connected to riots, released from jail

Posted at 6:37 PM, Jan 26, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-26 19:37:30-05

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — 44-year-old Brandon Straka, a native Nebraskan, was granted release from Douglas County jail on Tuesday in the US District Court of Nebraska after being charged in connection with the Capitol riots.

He’s now facing federal charges, including entering restricted grounds and impeding a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder.

The FBI Omaha field office arrested Straka on Monday.

Straka has a large online following. The self-proclaimed former liberal has over half a million Twitter followers after creating ‘Walkaway,’ a movement pushing people — specifically those who are non-white and gay — to leave the Democratic Party.

Straka came home this past October to speak at several rallies, including one with Rep. Don Bacon.

After the election, Straka was involved in a number of ‘Stop the Steal’ rallies, culminating on Jan. 6th.

According to the FBI criminal complaint, Straka was outed by a family relative who alerted the FBI to a video Straka allegedly filmed and posted on Twitter but later deleted. In the video, which can be found on YouTube, the man being identified as Straka yells “we’re going in.” At one point, the man in the video yells to the rioters to “take the shield” of a Capitol Hill police officer.

The complaint also shows that Straka may have admitted to being on forbidden grounds himself with a Tweet, posted on Jan 6, that read “Patriots at the Capitol – HOLD. THE. LINE!!!!” Another Tweet reads, “I was quite close to entering myself as police began tear-gassing us from the door. “

Straka’s Twitter page is now private.

Congressman Don Bacon spoke at one of Straka’s events and in a statement tells 3 News Now that constituents wanted the GOP to reach out to minorities and that, "I’ve been repeatedly clear that I condemn the violence committed on Jan. 6. Folks who committed crimes should be held accountable.”

Straka agreed to a variety of terms for his release, including needing permission to leave the state of Nebraska.

He will have his preliminary hearing in Nebraska in a few weeks, and if probable cause is found, the case will be moved to Washington DC federal court.