The chaos of January 6 has spawned quite a few right-wing political candidates and influencers who’ve sought to capitalize on their roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Gino DiGiovanni Jr. is completely different. The Republican mayoral candidate in Derby, Connecticut, was one of many Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol that day and faces a number of federal costs. Nonetheless, moderately than embrace disgrace or martyrdom in MAGA, DiGiovanni sought to maneuver away from the deadlocked motion that erupted within the wake of former President Trump’s loss.

“I am not an election denier, primary. Quantity two… I went to D.C. to look at the president converse for the final time,” DiGiovanni mentioned in a dialog with TPM on Wednesday. “Clearly, Joe Biden is the president. … I am not a conspiracy or somebody sporting a hat. “Tinfoil. I am only a common man. I am not an election denier or any of that.”

In response to a felony criticism filed by the FBI final month, DiGiovanni was contained in the Capitol for roughly 25 minutes on January 6, 2021 starting at 2:20 p.m. He was charged with coming into and remaining in a restricted constructing, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted constructing, disorderly conduct in a Capitol constructing, and picketing in a Capitol constructing. The criticism doesn’t describe DiGiovanni’s involvement in any acts of violence or vandalism. DiGiovanni was arrested in Connecticut on August 15 and requested a speedy trial.

Not like a few of the extra high-profile defendants on January 6, DiGiovanni was not accused of main the trouble to storm the Capitol, preventing with legislation enforcement officers who tried to safe the constructing, or coordinating efforts to stop certification of the election that was happening inside. His case is noteworthy as a result of he started his political profession after coming into the constructing through the violence and is continuous his marketing campaign for mayor regardless of the accusations.

DiGiovanni hopes voters can see past his function within the riots that left many lifeless and injured. More than 100 Law enforcement officials have been injured.

“Today should not outline anybody. Nicely, let me rephrase that, as a result of clearly there are individuals who have been arrested for hitting folks and doing issues. I imply I perceive the issues which are being charged,” DiGiovanni mentioned. For my distinctive case, I did not go there for… nefarious functions. …You’ll be able to’t say I am this evil particular person. …There’s nothing in my document, my historical past, that claims…that at some point it ought to outline my id.”

As he offered his case, DiGiovanni portrayed himself extra as a bystander swept up within the crowds than an energetic participant. DiGiovanni claimed he had deliberate to fly to Washington that day for his spouse, however she withdrew resulting from ongoing most cancers remedies. In response to DiGiovanni, he had no “agenda” aside from Trump’s imaginative and prescient and was not conscious of the “Cease the Steal” marches to protest the elections that have been held together with the previous president’s speech.

“Folks say: How may you will have gone into insurrection? “I inform them: I didn’t go into insurrection,” DiGiovanni defined. “It is as if I have been saying to you, ‘Hey, did you are taking your spouse or your loved ones or your children to a celebration on Sunday and all of the sudden a drastic occasion occurred. …I went to a celebration on Sunday. “Folks don’t perceive it.”

DiGiovanni mentioned he drove to Washington from Connecticut early that morning. He was with the crowds on the Nationwide Mall for Trump’s speech. DiGiovanni mentioned he had not heard Trump’s feedback about marching to the Capitol.

“We have been all simply getting began. All the pieces modified ,” DiGiovanni mentioned of the gang. “Trump’s speech was coming to an finish and the gang was beginning to transfer, so I went with the gang to be trustworthy with you and walked over there.”

Safety footage exhibits DiGiovanni strolling by way of the Capitol doorways, which have been open. He mentioned a police officer was “holding the door,” however that isn’t seen within the video. Different points of DiGiovanni’s story pressure credulity. He insisted that the FBI solely charged him with being within the constructing for “seven minutes” whereas the felony criticism mentioned he entered the constructing for roughly half an hour.

“With all due respect, if I have been to overthrow the federal government, I feel anybody, it doesn’t matter what, would wish greater than seven minutes to do this,” DiGiovanni mentioned.

DiGiovanni additionally famous that the entire violence occurred hours after he was within the constructing.

“Hindsight is 20/20. “I began all these instances and issues, and it occurred a lot later than once I was there,” DiGiovanni mentioned. “The cops have been all crushed up – I don’t know in the event that they have been crushed up or what the rationale was – however it occurred within the 6 a.m. time-frame. I didn’t know any of that.”

this isn’t true. The demonstrators They first quarreled with the police and broke barriers Simply earlier than 1 p.m., the clashes continued for greater than an hour by 2:20, which is when DiGiovanni is accused of coming into the constructing. It was additionally contained in the constructing He went into insurance. Protesters have been climbing partitions and smashing home windows. Nonetheless, DiGiovanni insists I didn’t see any violence Or sabotage. He caught to that story in his dialog with TPM.

“You probably did point out that you just knew all of that, , earlier,” DiGiovanni mentioned when requested if he was conscious of the violence happening round him.

Video footage exhibits DiGiovanni coming into the constructing by way of the foyer as law enforcement officials stood by and apparently allowed the large crowds to go. In response to the felony criticism, he walked by way of the rotunda and statue corridor whereas “documenting his expertise with what seems to be a smartphone” earlier than exiting the constructing.

DiGiovanni referred all questions concerning his case to his lawyer, Martin Minnella. In a dialog with TPM, Minella mentioned his consumer plans to plead not responsible.

“He is a patriot. He was there to precise his views. He did not carry a weapon,” Minnella mentioned of DiGiovanni. “He by no means supposed to disrupt the election or disrupt something. There was no intent there. These are premeditated crimes. There was no intent to cease Biden.” From changing into president.”

Minnella echoed DiGiovanni’s assertion that his consumer was within the Capitol constructing for under seven minutes as an alternative of the 25 minutes said within the felony criticism.

“As a result of it is associated to a felony criticism, that does not imply it is true,” Minnella mentioned. “If they are saying 25 minutes or 25 hours, do you suppose I can take their phrase for it?”

Minnella additionally repeated DiGiovanni’s assertion that police closed the door on him, and mentioned that they had footage that confirmed that. When requested to supply this, Minnella mentioned he would wish time to overview “500 hours” of safety tape.

“I’ve not had the chance to overview the invention,” he mentioned.

Minnella additionally insisted that DiGiovanni was being focused by political rivals.

“There are some damned folks within the Republican Social gathering that I do not respect — and I will not identify names — who’ve outdone themselves,” Minnella mentioned. “They’re all losers on prime of that. …They did every thing for the sake of sabotage and I don’t need to point out names now, I’ll in due time. However consider me, these folks have a variety of skeletons of their closet.”

DiGiovanni, who owns a building firm in Connecticut, started his political profession after January 6. He was elected to Derby Metropolis Council in November 2021. Eleven months after his election, A local NBC affiliate was selected DiGiovanni entered the Capitol on January 6. At the moment, it was DiGiovanni He said he believed There have been “some contradictions” in Trump’s loss. This primary report made nationwide headlines as DiGiovanni gained the first. In response to the felony criticism, DiGiovanni was initially recognized based mostly on “civilian on-line investigators,” his confessions to NBC, and the truth that he was sporting a jacket bearing the identify of his building firm when he entered the Capitol.

The fees in opposition to him didn’t forestall DiGiovanni from successful the Republican mayoral main in opposition to incumbent Richard Dzikan earlier this month. His victory – by simply 10 votes – was aided by an surprising finances shortfall that created town Subject to strict financial review Through the Dzikan interval. After the first, Dzikan introduced that he supposed to stay within the race as an unaffiliated candidate. DiGiovanni can also be going through one other unaffiliated candidate, Joe DiMartino, the Democratic nominee.

To date, his opponents have paid little consideration to the federal case in opposition to DiGiovanni. Dzikan He told the New York Times He believes DiGiovanni is a “nice man” though his “judgment” was “just a little off” in that case. DiMartino He made similar comments To the newspaper.

“I do not suppose it was a fantastic transfer on his half,” DiMartino mentioned of DiGiovanni, including: “I am probably not attempting to assault him.”

DiGiovanni wants Derby’s common election voters to be equally tolerant.

It is an attention-grabbing gamble in a very nonpartisan house. Biden beat Trump by 214 votes within the metropolis in 2020. Final yr, the unsuccessful Republican candidate gained the Connecticut gubernatorial election in Derby by lower than three p.c.

DiGiovanni has an extended historical past within the metropolis. He was a three-sport athlete in highschool and remained concerned in youth sports activities together with teaching a neighborhood Pop Warner workforce. DiGiovanni additionally has the assist of the native Republican Metropolis Committee. He is relying on his relationships to place him to the take a look at in November.

“Folks in Derby have identified me my entire life. They know the type of particular person I’m. They know the character I carry,” DiGiovanni mentioned. “Everybody simply desires to speak about January sixth all day every single day, and voters know who The place did you come from?