ATLANTA — A Rabun County man is the latest Georgian to be arrested in the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.
Blas Fabian Santillan has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
The FBI said it started receiving tips that Santillan was involved in the riot in the capitol building after people he knew said Santillan started posting video on Snapchat showing him at the Capitol.
“The video first shows Santillan’s face and then it pans around what appears to be the rotunda of the Capitol building. Santillan can be heard saying, ‘Look at this. All this stuff,’” an arrest warrant said. “In the course of investigating the January 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol building, law enforcement has obtained numerous photos and videos from in and around the Capitol building taken by the rioters that day. One particular video shows what appears to be Santillan in the Rotunda of the Capitol building talking on a cell phone.”
Another video showed Santillan outside the rotunda “shouting at the rioters and encouraging them to enter the Capitol building.”
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“It seems like you’re that weak, because I’m the only one that was willing to do something! I’m the only one that was willing to kick that door! Who else is willing to storm in there? No one! ... Who are you! Who are you! You’re not America! You’re not America! ... Americans do not sit by while people take your rights! You are lazy Americans! That is what you are! You are used to sitting on your couch, and watching your Netflix, and listening to your shows, and watching YouTube! You do not know what freedom is ... Freedom is doing what you want! Freedom! Let’s go! ... Is this your house?” Santillan is heard yelling on the video according to an arrest warrant.
The FBI also said Capitol security video also spotted Santillan inside the rotunda.
“At the time he entered, there were at least two Capitol police officers standing in the doorway attempting to stop the rioters from entering the Capitol. The video shows Santillan pushing his way around one of the officers so he can enter the building,” the arrest warrant said.
Santillan is the 15th Georgian arrested as part of the nationwide investigation into the insurrection.
The FBI arrested Santillan Monday at his home in Rabun County. He was charged by a federal magistrate judge the same day, assigned a federal public defender and released on his own recognizance.
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