A Greer, South Carolina man pleads guilty to felony disorderly conduct in the January 6 breach of the Capitol

On October 12, 2024By Yukito

October 12, 2024 – WASHINGTON – On October 10, 2024, a South Carolina man pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising from his conduct during the breach of security of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted the common a meeting of the US Congress convened to determine and count electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

DOJ Norwood
William Robert Norwood III, 41, of Greer, South Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols to a felony count of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disturbance. Judge Nichols will sentence Norwood on February 21, 2025.

Court documents show Norwood drove from South Carolina to Washington, D.C. to attend then-President Trump’s speech on Jan. 6, 2021, near the Ellipse. After the rally, Norwood went to the Capitol building and entered its restricted area. Norwood climbed a partially covered staircase on the northwest side of the Capitol and eventually entered the building through the doors of the northwest wing of the Senate at approximately 2:23 p.m.

Once inside, Norwood briefly entered an office across the hall from the Old Supreme Court Chambers. Norwood recorded video of himself entering this office. In the video, Norwood can be heard saying, “Well, we’re in it b— now. What now? This is our home” upon entering the office and “Where are you in Nancy?” after leaving the office.

After leaving the office, Norwood made his way through the Vault and eventually headed towards the Rotunda. There, Norwood was part of a crowd of rioters making their way through Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. As he passed through the Speaker’s Wing, Norwood picked up a paper clipboard with the words “Congress of the United States” and the congressional seal printed on it that another rioter had thrown to him from a desk outside Speaker Pelosi’s office.

Norwood then went to the balcony outside the Speaker’s chamber and recorded two videos of the crowd gathered outside on the west front of the Capitol building. In one of the videos, Norwood can be heard shouting, “This is our house, b–.” In the second, Norwood can be heard screaming: “(Inaudible) home! Go home, police! Goodbye, you….

After leaving the balcony, Norwood entered one of Speaker Pelosi’s offices for about 25 seconds. He then walked back through the Speaker’s wing.

After leaving the Speaker’s Wing, Norwood returned through the Rotunda and toward the East Rotunda door, which was guarded from the inside by at least three Capitol Police officers. Norwood walked to the front of the line of rioters gathered there and began banging on the door, trying to open it.

Norwood shouted at officers to open the door, but officers repeatedly told Norwood and others that the door would not be opened. Norwood knew the officers were trying to close the door, but he continued to press on it with his hands. At approximately 2:38 p.m., Norwood and the rioters behind him finally pushed open the door, allowing hundreds of rioters to enter the Capitol building from the outside.

After breaking down the door, Norwood continued wandering around the Capitol building and recorded a one-minute video inside the Rotunda showing a line of Metropolitan Police Department officers. In the recording, Norwood can be heard saying: “Oh, they… are trying to push us out. . . . Should we get our house back? Our home. You’re all a bunch of p-. It’s about to fall, brother. Norwood then turns the camera on himself and says, “It’s about to end. Because I will go to the (unintelligible) guns or their asps and attack these mk- later. No, no, no, no.

Norwood eventually left the Capitol through the doors of the East Rotunda at approximately 2:59 p.m. After leaving the building, Norwood retrieved a Capitol Police helmet and record carrier from a dumpster outside the building.

The FBI arrested Norwood on February 25, 2021, in South Carolina.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Homeland Security have opened an investigation into the matter. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina provided valuable assistance.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Columbia and Washington field offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 45 months since January 6, 2021, in nearly all 50 states, more than 1,532 people have been charged with crimes related to breaching the agenda of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 people charged with assault or obstructing law enforcement, which are felonies. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit Tips.fbi.gov.