January 6 Defendant Gets Punched in Head at Restaurant

A man who served a three-year sentence for his role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was punched in the face during an altercation at a Washington, D.C., restaurant last week, according to social media videos.

The footage, posted by right-wing journalist Corinne Cliford to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), shows the incident involving January 6 defendant Brandon Fellows at the D.C. restaurant Del Mar on July 4. In the videos, Fellows and Cliford are seen arguing with two other patrons about politics, although it is not clear what prompted the argument.

Cliford wrote on X: "We just got physically attacked on July 4th at the Del Mar Restaurant on the Wharf in Washington, D.C. because Brandon Fellows was wearing a MAGA hat & I was talking about how President Donald Trump is winning & we will all work together to MAKE America Great Again."

In several videos, the argument is seen escalating from a verbal spat to physical violence. In the final video posted online, the two other patrons are seen punching Fellows in the face.

In a report provided by the D.C. police to Newsweek, the altercation began when the two unidentified patrons heard Cliford and Fellows discussing the latter's legal challenges in the restaurant. They allegedly told Cliford to "get that f*** out of here, you are not welcome with your Trump bulls***."

The case remains under investigation, a police spokesperson told Newsweek. The other individuals involved remained unidentified by early Monday afternoon. It is unclear whether charges will ultimately be filed.

Newsweek reached out to Fellows via X message and the Del Mar restaurant via email for comment.

Fellows, 30, who is from New York was sentenced in February to 42 months in prison after being convicted on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Capitol riot, when a group of Donald Trump's supporters violently protested the 2020 election results. Trump has claimed the election was stolen because of widespread fraud, but those claims have not been supported by evidence.

Although he was formally sentenced only this year, Fellows received credit for the nearly three years he had already served.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Fellows of entering the Capitol building through a broken window and walking through the Senate wing door holding a "Trump 2020" flag.

In a press statement, the DOJ said: "Once inside, Fellows stood on top of broken furniture and waved the flag. Fellows then briefly entered a congressional conference room and then walked across the hall to the private office of a U.S. Senator from Oregon. While inside the office, Fellows sat in a chair, put his feet up on a conference table, and smoked marijuana."

Fellows made headlines last month after attending and making faces during a congressional hearing about the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which Dr. Anthony Fauci testified.