(DailyVantage.com) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested actor and Republican Party official Siaka Massaquoi over his involvement in the January 6, 2021, protest action at the Capitol.
Massaquoi, who serves as the first vice chair for the Republican Party’s L.A. County chapter, was charged with misdemeanors that included disorderly conduct, trespassing, and parading.
Authorities arrested the actor at the Burbank Airport in Burbank, California. According to Red State, a conservative publication where Massaquoi writes as a columnist, the actor had just come from Nashville to attend a screening of “Ladyballers,” a controversial comedy film about transgender athletes.
Massaquoi was with his wife at the time of his arrest. She was informed of the charges, but the arresting officers did not produce a warrant. Massaquoi was taken to the Monterey Park Jail but was later released after spending a night in jail and posting a $1,000 bond.
According to Red State, Massaquoi’s home was already raided by authorities in 2021, but he was not arrested or charged at that time. Massaquoi also tweeted a video of him participating in the January 6 protest.
“Witness why I was raided two years ago and recently arrested and charged,” Massaquoi posted.
The footage the actor shared showed him peacefully protesting and even assisting police officers in making other protesters comply with the order to leave the Capitol building. “We’re gonna work it out,” the actor says in the video.
Massaquoi’s arrest has been met with criticism from conservative commentators and supporters. Seth Dillon, the editor-in-chief of conservative parody site The Babylon Bee, slammed the arrest, calling it “political persecution” and a “punishment” imposed on Massaquoi simply for being a Trump supporter. Tesla and Twitter/X CEO Elon Musk also chimed in, tweeting, “This has gone too far.”
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched on GiveSendGo in order to help with Massaquoi’s legal defense expenses.
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