Dustin and Karla Adams took a bus to the rally. Courtesy | Facebook

The FBI arrested a Hillsdale couple for charges related to the riot at the U.S Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

“They were just there to peacefully protest, to exercise their First Amendment, petition their government, and voice their views,” the couple’s attorney Daren Wiseley said. 

Dustin and Karla Adams voluntarily surrendered to the FBI at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in Grand Rapids on Sept. 19, according to Wiseley. 

A tipster reached out to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center to say the couple went inside the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, according to a criminal complaint filed Sept. 8 and published by the Hillsdale Daily News.

The FBI then launched an investigation, according to the criminal complaint, which uncovered photos and video from social media and security cameras that investigators claim show the couple in and outside the Capitol during the riot. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui issued an arrest warrant for the couple Sept. 8, according to court documents The Collegian obtained. 

Wiseley said the FBI called his office, then he called the federal prosecutor handling the case and set up a time for the couple to surrender. 

After pretrial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan the day of the arrest, the couple was released without posting bond, according to Wiseley. The couple faced another hearing Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves filed charges against the couple, according to court documents. 

The couple is facing misdemeanor charges for breaking sections of United States Code that ban entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building, Wiseley said.

“These charges are pretty much the boilerplate,” Wiseley said. 

The charges could carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison, according to Wiseley. He said he disputes the charges due to concerns over the First Amendment, due process, and an “ex post facto,” or after the fact, interpretation of the law. 

“They certainly were not engaged in any type of criminal activity up in Washington, D.C.,” Wiseley said. “They’re good people, I’ve never seen them do anything wrong.”

Investigators cited the couples’ social media activity and political comments, according to the criminal complaint. Karla Adams allegedly posted on Facebook about “arresting people” in Washington. 

“Dustin and I will be going to D.C. Please keep us in your prayers,” she posted on Facebook, according to the criminal complaint. “The Hillsdale Republican Party will show up!! Politicians who got paid and don’t work we will replace every one of ya!!!”

The prosecution will likely claim the couple had an ulterior motive, Wiseley said. 

“But I think that’s nonsense,” Wiseley said. “At the end of the day, it’s still their protected speech. You know, those are statements of opinion.”

Wiseley said the couple went to Washington with the Hillsdale County Republican Party, which took two buses to the Jan. 6 rally. 

Penny Swan, a former officer of the HCRP’s “America First” faction, said she watched the buses depart. 

“I saw their ways and resigned as an officer, and walked away from that faction of the Republican Party,” Swan said. “Believe the election was stolen or not, I think if you cross police lines there should be consequences, and it’s time to let the courts work this all out.”