Former NFL player Antwoine Williams charged in Capitol riot

He played one season in 2016 before being released by the Lions and had brief stints with several other American football teams.

According to court documents, Mr Williams, 31, was seen on videos from the Capitol riot, where thousands of pro-Trump activists broke into the building after his 2020 election loss, pulling on barricades and hitting a police officer on the head, and struggling with other officers.

Prosecutors say he stayed on the Capitol grounds until the evening of 6 January.

He was identified by a golf hat and a distinct key fob that he was wearing during the riot that matched other online photos of Mr Williams.

Online volunteers known as “sedition hunters,” who use online videos and pictures to hunt for rioters, identified the brand of the hat and nicknamed Mr Williams “RiotingGolfer”.

More than 1,500 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, when a crowd of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building that houses the US Congress in an attempt to stop certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Donald Trump has promised to pardon some of the rioters, although he has not made clear what criteria he would use to do so.

Several convicted or accused rioters have asked for their trials or sentencing hearings to be delayed because Trump’s promise might affect their cases. On Thursday, two judges delayed such hearings, however other judges have turned down similar requests.

The FBI is still looking to identify dozens of other suspects who were present at the Capitol that day.