Two more Texas real estate agents have been arrested for storming the US Capitol Building after flying into Washington DC on a private jet...
Two more Texas real estate agents have been arrested for storming the US Capitol Building after flying into Washington DC on a private jet.
Jason Lee Hyland, 37, and Katherine 'Katie' Schwab, 32, were charged Thursday with disorderly conduct and knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, The Daily Beast reports.
The charges come two weeks after another member of their private jet posse - 50-year-old Jennifer 'Jenna' Ryan - was also arrested on the same offences.
Ryan documented the group's extravagant trip to DC, sharing photos to social media from inside the plush private plane.
Jason Lee Hyland (far right) and Katherine 'Katie' Schwab (center) were charged Thursday over their role in the storming of the US Capitol Building on January 6. Jennifer 'Jenna' Ryan (right) was charged with the same offences last month. The trio are pictured prior to flying from Texas to DC on a private jet on January 5
The Frisco-based real estate broker told NBC News last month that she spontaneously decided to travel to the nation's capitol after receiving a Facebook message from an 'adorable' stranger who was looking for people to join him at Donald Trump's 'Stop The Steal' rally on January 6.
That stranger is purported to be Hyland - who also works in the real estate industry in Frisco.
Hyland, who is a certified student pilot, has now admitted to organizing the flight logistics to DC.
According to charging documents, he allegedly messaged the group of people joining him on the private jet in a chat titled 'Patriot flight'.
'Thanks for joining me to DC to stand up for America. This will be historic – no matter the outcome,' he is purported to have written on January 4.
'We will leave from us trinity hanger at Denton Airport tomorrow.'
The group flew out of Texas on January 5. They landed in DC several hours later and spent the night in a hotel before heading to Trump's rally on the morning of January 6.
Later, Ryan, Schwab and Hyland were all caught on camera inside the Capitol as a mob of angry Trump supporters stormed the building.
Ryan and Schwab are seen posing for a picture on board the plush private jet
Hyland and Ryan are seen smiling for a photo after disembarking from the private jet, which they charted to Washington DC
Schwab and Ryan are pictured posing on board the private jet with two other men. Those men have not been charged with any offenses
According to charging documents, Hyland claimed he walked up the steps of the Capitol in a 'funnel' of people. He claims he was only inside the building 'for a very short time'.
Schwab similarly claims that she was 'was pushed by the crowds' into the building's lobby.
She told investigators that she started to get crushed due to her 'small stature' and a Capitol Police Officer quickly helped her to exit the building.
Both Hyland and Schwab have since been released from custody after being charged in relation to the siege.
Schwab, who worked in real estate in Dallas, has reportedly been fired from her job.
However, it appears that she may have managed to find romance with Hyland during the turbulent two-day trip to DC.
Last month, Ryan told NBC that she first had her eye on Hyland during the interstate escapade. But she hinted that he ended up with Schwab instead.
'He was adorable... [but] there was another adorable girl there, too, and they ended up getting together, darn it,' she stated.
According to charging documents, Hyland claimed he walked up the steps of the Capitol in a 'funnel' of people. He claims he was only inside the building 'for a very short time'. The FBI released this image purportedly showing Hyland in the Capitol's lobby
Schwab similarly claims that she was 'was pushed by the crowds' into the building's lobby. The FBI released this image purportedly showing Schwab in the Capitol
Ryan is seen inside the Capitol during the siege on January 6
Meanwhile, Ryan has other problems on her hands, aside from her failed attempt at romance.
The outspoken blonde has been booted off PayPal after she asked her supporters to send money via the online payment system to help cover her legal fees.
Despite flying in style, it appears Ryan does not have cash to splash on court costs, and turned to PayPal late last month to help raise funds.
'I am accepting donations to pay legal fees and losses due to my arrest and charges by the FBI for protesting at the US Capitol. Thank you for your support. Any amount helps,' Ryan tweeted on January 21 along with a link to her PayPal account.
'I have to go to trial in Washington DC for this misdemeanor. I believe I was wrongfully arrested and charged and we have to fight for my freedom and [clear] my name.'
However, Ryan's bid to raise funds were thwarted when PayPayl kicked her off the platform.
'PayPal has a policy to allow fundraising for legal defense purposes,' a PayPal spokesperson told CBS News.
'PayPal thoroughly reviews accounts, and if we learn that funds are used for anything other than legal defense, the account will be subject to immediate closure. We can confirm that the account in question has been closed.'
Ryan is seen posing next to the private jet which whisked her to Washington DC, where she allegedly participated in the siege of the Capitol
Jennifer 'Jenna' Ryan, 50, has been booted off PayPal after she asked her supporters to send money through the online payment system to help cover legal fees for charges relating to the Capitol riots on January 6
Ryan has fiercely maintained her innocence in the Capitol riots in multiple media interviews.
The single realtor - who said she loves Trump, firmly believes his unfounded claims of voter fraud and has always wanted to attend one of his rallies - told NBC News: 'I have no guilt in my heart.'
'My intention was not to have a riot. I did not want to have a riot. I was documenting what was going on in the environment I was in.'
'I'm glad I was there, because I witnessed history,' she added later. 'I'll never get the chance to do that again. No one will probably ever be able to go near [the Capitol] again.'
Ryan, Hyland and Schwab are among the 175 people who have been arrested so far on charges related to the violent insurrection led by Trump supporters at the Capitol. Charges range from curfew violations to serious federal felonies related to theft and weapons possession.
In total five people were killed during the siege, including one US Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies continue to search for the identities of several other individuals who were photographed rioting in the Capitol.
Ryan also posted a photo of a broken window on Twitter, writing: 'Window at The capital. And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next'
No comments