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| Matthew Perna | |
|---|---|
| Died | (2022-02-25)February 25, 2022 |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Alma mater | Pennsylvania State University |
| Known for | January 6 United States Capitol attack |
| Criminal charge | Witness tampering, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, 2 counts of disorderly conduct |
Matthew Lawrence Perna (died February 25, 2022) was an American 37-year-old who took part in the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. Perna committed suicide in February 2022 while awaiting his sentencing on charges of witness tampering, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and two counts of disorderly conduct.
Early life
Perna graduated from Pennsylvania State University. He had previously lived in Thailand and South Korea.
January 6 United States Capitol attack
According to a statement of offense, Perna travelled from Sharpsville, Pennsylvania to the Washington "Stop the Steal" rally, which he attended with Stephen Ayres. He wore a red hoodie on which the phrase "Make America Great Again" was printed.
He marched with to the Capitol with the crowd. He later stated to police that upon reaching the top of the steps on the west side of the building, he found an open door and was subsequently pushed into the building by the crowd that formed behind him. He spent the next 20 minutes inside the Capitol building. He recorded himself on his phone chanting "USA! USA!" with the crowd. He later told agents he tapped a window with a metal flagpole after becoming frustrated.
After leaving the building, court documents state that Perna went to a hotel room, in which he recorded a video with two other people. In the eight-minute video, which he uploaded to Facebook, he made the claim that people with Antifa were “chiefly” responsible for breaking the doors and the windows at the Capitol, and that "it’s not over, trust me. The purpose of today was to expose Pence as a traitor," referring to then-Vice President Mike Pence.
Arrest and trial
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shared a photograph of Perna in the hopes of identifying him; this was recognized by a person familiar with Perna who pointed to Perna's alleged support for Trump and QAnon on his Facebook page.
He was charged alongside Ayres with witness tampering, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and two counts of disorderly conduct. Perna pleaded guilty to all charges in December 2021, on advice from his defense attorney that he could expect a maximum sentence of 6 to 12 months if he did so. After this, prosecutors brought up the possibility of a sentencing enhancement that could have resulted in Perna spending multiple years in prison. Following this, his case was delayed multiple times over 13 months, with his sentencing scheduled for March or April 1, 2023.
Death
Perna died by suicide at age 37 on February 25, 2022, prior to his sentencing. His obituary read that he "died of a broken heart," and that "his community (which he loved), his country, and the justice system killed his spirit and his zest for life." It further stated that Perna "did not have a hateful bone in his body. He embraced people of all races, income brackets, and beliefs, never once berating anyone for having different view." It said he attended the riot "to peacefully stand up for his beliefs" and that "he immediately turned himself in" upon learning the FBI was searching for him, as well as that "the constant delays in hearings, and postponements dragged out for over a year. Because of this, Matt’s heart broke and his spirit died."
In 2023, his aunt Geri Perna visited Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort with other family members of people charged in the attack; while there, Trump promised to posthumously pardon Matthew. In June 2024 The Washington Post reported that Perna was the only known individual rioter whom Trump had specifically promised to pardon.
See also
References
- ^ Lenthang, Marlene (March 2, 2022). "Capitol rioter awaiting sentencing dies by suicide, coroner says". NBC News. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Kunzelman, Michael (September 22, 2022). "Jan. 6 hearing witness avoids jail time for Capitol riot". Associated Press. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ^ Arnsdorf, Isaac; Jaffe, Greg (June 14, 2024). "Trump pledged to pardon Jan. 6 rioters. He faces pressure to name names". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- Cohen, Rebecca. "Family of Capitol rioter said he died of a 'broken heart' and blamed the justice system for killing his 'zest for life'". Business Insider. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- "FBI Agent And Former Prosecutors Explain Why So Many People From Pa. Were Involved In Jan. 6 Capitol Riots - CBS Pittsburgh". CBS News. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2025.