Two North Carolina Men Charged With Obstructing An Official Proceeding During January 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — Two North Carolina men have been charged with obstructing the Electoral College vote count for the 2020 presidential election and other crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Christopher Carnell, 20, of Cary, North Carolina, and David Worth Bowman, 21, of Raleigh, North Carolina, are charged with obstructing, influencing, or impeding any official proceeding, or attempting to do so, a felony. They are also each charged with four misdemeanors: knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds; entering or remaining on the floor of a House of Congress without authorization; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol Buildings. Carnell was arrested on March 2, 2023 and had an initial appearance in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Bowman was taken into custody today and will have an initial appearance this morning in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

            According to court documents, Bowman and Carnell are seen on surveillance video, from January 6, 2021, unlawfully entering the Senate floor at 2:49 p.m. The two appeared to be traveling together and could be seen rifling through papers on Senators’ desks. The FBI also reviewed cell phone video from another individual charged with crimes inside the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. That video was recorded at around 2:42 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021 and shows Carnell and Bowman just outside the Rotunda. Carnell can be seen joining the crowd as they chanted, “treason.” On December 1, 2022, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant, seizing Bowman’s cellular telephone. Pursuant to that search warrant, the FBI searched the contents of Bowman’s cell phone and discovered pictures and videos taken on restricted Capitol grounds and inside the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Included among those videos was one showing Carnell inside the Rotunda and another with Bowman sitting at a Senator’s desk on the floor of the United States Senate.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Charlotte Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 26 months since January 6, nearly 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.