Son of Brooklyn judge arrested in Capitol attack
A man whose image went viral on social media after he allegedly stormed the Capitol last week wearing a fur outfit and police vest while carrying a plastic riot shield is now facing federal charges. Aaron Mostofsky, the son of a prominent Brooklyn judge, was arrested Tuesday at a Brooklyn home, CBS New York reported. Mostofsky has since been ordered released on a $100,000 secured bond and has been forbidden from attending political gatherings.
Mostofsky is the son of Kings County Supreme Court Judge Shlomo Mostofsky, the station reports. A spokesperson for the judge had no comment on the arrest when contacted by CBS New York.
The younger Mostofsky, 34, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with felony theft of government property, unlawful entry of a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds with intent to impede government activity.
The criminal complaint cites a New York Post story in which Mostofsky identified himself by his first name to a reporter during the assault, saying, "The election was stolen" and "We were cheated."
The criminal complaint lists the Capitol Police riot shield and a bulletproof vest as the federal property Mostofsky is alleged to have stolen, valued at more than $2,000. Mostofsky said he found both on the ground, according to the complaint.
The complaint said investigators used New York Post reports, along with social media posts, to identify Mostofsky.
It also cited messages Mostofsky allegedly wrote to friends indicating he was at the Capitol during the attack. In one, he wrote to a friend he intended to meet there, "If we find each other look for a guy looking like a caveman." He also allegedly messaged the friend, "Even a caveman knows it was stolen."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Hafetz said at a Tuesday hearing that the government is "deeply troubled" by Mostofsky's actions. Although he was ordered released on bond, Mostofsky is forbidden from attending political gatherings, contacting any known co-defendants and leaving New York City. He is also forbidden from visiting any state capitols and will be fitted with a GPS monitor to track his location.
He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, felony theft, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York told CBS News.
Cassandra Gauthier contributed reporting.
