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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
National
Freddy Brewster

Jan. 6 rioter Stephen Ayres testifies before House committee

WASHINGTON — Stephen Ayres, an Ohio man who entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, testified Tuesday to the congressional committee investigating the attack. Ayres pleaded guilty last month to charges related to his actions on Jan. 6 as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.

In his testimony, Ayres stated that he was not a part of any extremist group, but a "family man and a working man" who was taken in by former President Donald Trump. "Family is my life," he told the committee.

Following Trump on social media led Ayres down the path to entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6, he testified. "I was pretty hardcore into the social media," Ayres said. "I followed President Trump on all of the websites. He basically put out, 'Come to the Stop the Steal rally' and I felt like I needed to be down here."

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