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GOP donor arrested for attacking police with wasp spray on Jan. 6

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May 30, 2023

GOP donor arrested for attacking police with wasp spray on Jan. 6

New York Peter Moloney, who owns funeral homes on Long Island, is also accused

New York

Peter Moloney, who owns funeral homes on Long Island, is also accused of assaulting a member of the media.

Insurrectionists loyal to former President Donald Trump breach the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. | John Minchillo/AP Photo

By Kyle Cheney and Erica Orden

06/07/2023 11:58 AM EDT

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NEW YORK — A prominent Long Island funeral home director and frequent donor to GOP causes was arrested Wednesday and charged by federal prosecutors with spraying wasp insecticide at police officers during the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol.

Peter G. Moloney, who campaign finance records show has given thousands of dollars to GOP campaigns and committees — including Donald Trump, the Republican National Committee and Lee Zeldin, a former congressman and New York gubernatorial candidate — was also charged with assaulting a member of the media. Moloney is slated to make his initial appearance at a federal courthouse on Long Island on Wednesday afternoon.

He is being prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia. A lawyer for Moloney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to court documents, Moloney, 58, used Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer spray to attack police officers several times while wearing gear to protect himself, including a helmet and protective eyewear.

Moloney also attacked an Associated Press photographer "by grabbing onto his camera and pulling, causing him to stumble down the stairs," according to court filings. He punched and shoved the photographer away from the Capitol's West Plaza, and other rioters pushed the photographer over a wall, prosecutors alleged.

Additional pictures included in the charging documents show Moloney attempting to grab a second journalist's camera. Though the filing only identifies the journalist as "N.Q.," POLITICO has confirmed that the initials represent Nick Quested, a well-known filmmaker who was a witness for the Jan. 6 select committee and at the recent seditious conspiracy trial of members of the Proud Boys leadership. Quested's footage has been crucial evidence for both prosecutors and the committee over the past two years.

Prosecutors nodded to the support of an online group of open-source researchers — dubbed the Sedition Hunters — in identifying Moloney, linking to videos posted by accounts associated with the group, which has been pursuing evidence related to Moloney for two years.

Federal authorities indicated in court filings that they may charge another person who works with Moloney at the funeral home and who attended the Jan. 6 attack with him. Prosecutors did not identify the second person.

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