LI Man Who 'Opened Door' To U.S. Capitol On Jan. 6 Pleads Guilty: DOJ

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A New Hyde Park man pleaded guilty to felony charges for his actions at the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. Eric Gerwatowski, 32, was arrested at his Long Island home in February, charged with interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder.

According to the DOJ, Gerwatowski opened a door to the Upper House that police officers were trying to close to prevent rioters from entering. He yelled "let's go," directing more people into the building, the DOJ reported. He spent three minutes inside the building, the charges state.

The DOJ documents also say Gerwatowski was seen on a livestream inside the Capitol telling another rioter that "they're raping kids and shooting kids."

Gerwatowski was seen in video footage opening the door, and was also interviewed on Jan. 6 on the Capitol steps. When asked by an interviewer why he was there, he said "Because the commies are trying to take the country."

The FBI received tips after the footage was released, leading them to identify the Long Islander.

Gerwatowski will be sentenced in March, and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.