Insurrectionist who positioned himself as a political martyr takes plea deal

WASHINGTON (CN) — A Capitol rioter who put himself in league with Adolph Hitler and Martin Luther King Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to the misdemeanor charge of unlawful picketing. 

“All major political figures Hitler, Lenin, Dr. King, and Malcom (sic) X served time,” Micajah Jackson posted earlier this month, using the Story feature on Instagram. “I shall serve my time honorably. I will spread the word of Jesus Christ to my fellow inmates. I have accepted my fate in the good Lord. I advocate for peace, justice, liberty, and life.” 

On the day of the riot, Jackson wore an orange Proud Boys armband and was seen walking with a group of Arizona Proud Boys near the Capitol. Later, however, the 25-year-old former U.S. Marine from Arizona told FBI agents denied affiliation with the group and said was only with them because he wanted to meet up with other people from Arizona. 

FBI agents wrote in an affidavit that his social media interactions with the members contradict that claim.

Jackson has been an outspoken advocate for Capitol rioters, even speaking in September at a “Justice for J6” rally in Phoenix, where more than a dozen Proud Boys were in attendance. Jackson is prohibited from affiliating with the group as part of the conditions of his release, but there’s no evidence he spoke with them at the September rally. 

“The government weaponized the FBI, the Capitol Police, D.C. police, Antifa, BLM, and Democratic activists to set up a coup against patriotic Americans like myself and hundreds and thousands of others that are still being persecuted,” Jackson said during his speech. 

Jackson's post Instagram comparing himself to Hitler was first reported on Nov. 12 by PatriotTakes, an anonymously run Twitter account whose stated mission is to “research, monitor, and expose the extremism and radicalization of the far right across the darkest parts of the internet.”

On Instagram, Jackson uses a QAnon slogan in place of his name and routinely posts conspiracy theories while wearing paraphernalia endorsing former President Donald Trump.

"The radical U.S. Government is the Deep State. My claims have been proven," Jackson wrote in a Sept. 26 post about his Justice for J6 speech.

He faces up to six months of prison time after pleading guilty Monday to unlawful parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. 

Another rioter to accept the same plea Monday is Nicole Prado. The Maryland woman was arrested and charged after her friend posted about her on Instagram: “Please meet the new congresswoman… she, uh, she just was in the Capitol for the first time today. She stormed the Capito, she’s the new congresswoman. She’s the new Speaker of the House.”

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