Journalist convicted for Jan. 6 riot as prosecutors say he stormed Pelosi's office, chanted with mob

A jury convicted independent journalist Stephen Horn on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot after prosecutors accused him of storming then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office and joining the mob in at least one chant.

Horn, 25, was charged with four misdemeanors: two related to disorderly conduct, one on entering and remaining in a restricted building and one on demonstrating in a Capitol building. After a three-day trial, the jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before returning Monday with a guilty verdict, "The Epoch Times" reported.

Horn and his attorneys say that he joined the mob on Jan. 6, 2021, so he could accurately report on the events of that day as a journalist. Additionally, Horn was not wearing clothing supporting then-President Donald Trump, he did not assault law enforcement officers and he also warned at least once to not break any items in Pelosi's office, according to "The Washington Post."

Horn's attorneys also said he only participated in one "USA" chant to blend in over concerns that the rioters would attack him if they thought he was a reporter.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly scheduled Horn's sentencing for Jan. 10, 2024.

"My attitude is that if you expect the worst, you'll never be disappointed," Horn told the Times shortly after he was found guilty.

Many online figures expressed surprise and disgust over Horn's guilty verdict, including Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton, The Babylon Bee's Ashley St. Clair and even SpaceX, Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk.

Horn said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Kelly asked to be briefed on a Rule 29 motion his attorneys made, arguing that a judge must acquit a defendant for "any offense for which the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction."

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.