Man found guilty after testifying he followed Trump's 'orders' on Jan. 6

"If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that," Thompson testified.
U.S. Capitol Jan. 6
By Madeleine Hubbard

The first man to blame his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot on former President Donald Trump was found guilty on Thursday.

A federal jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Dustin Byron Thompson, 38, guilty on six counts, The Associated Press reported.

"If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that," Thompson testified Wednesday.

Thompson stressed that he was shocked he joined the riot. He admitted that he stole a coat rack and a bottle of bourbon from a Senate office.

"I can’t believe the things that I did," he said. "Mob mentality and group think is very real and very dangerous."

The court found Thompson guilty of obstructing Congress, stealing government property, entering or remaining in a restricted area, demonstrating in a Capitol, disruptive conduct in a Capitol and disorderly conduction in a restricted building, according to the AP.

The obstruction charge is Thompson's only felony while the others constitute misdemeanors.