A man who claims to have been the first person into the Senate chambers inside the Capitol Building on Wednesday has explained his motives for storming the US seat of government.
Despite having been pictured hanging from the walls of the chamber and sitting in a seat reserved for the Vice President Mike Pence, he claims that he was urging the others involved in the rioting to respect the 'sacred place' they'd smashed their way into.
Josiah Colt, a member of the pro-Trump group that attacked the building who is reportedly from Boise, Idaho, was sharing social media videos throughout the incident, and says that he was the first to breach the sanctity of the Senate chamber.
Now, the 34-year-old may wish that he hadn't filmed everything for social media, as he - along with many others involved - is likely to face charges for his actions.
Mr Colt confirmed that he is talking to his attorney about events on Wednesday, and told CBS2 Idaho that he got 'caught up in the moment'.
He said: "I love America, I love the people, I didn't hurt anyone and I didn't cause any damage in the Chamber.
"I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair.
"I said my piece then I helped a gentleman get to safety that was injured then left,"
Colt was amongst thousands of Trump supporters who attended a rally, during which they were egged on by the outgoing president before descending on the Capitol as Congress was due to confirm Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.
After smashing into the building and experiencing surprisingly little response from the police, they defaced offices, carved messages such as 'murder the media' into doors, and flipped over tables.
However, Colt says he wasn't amongst those who wanted destruction.
He continued: "While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to not do any damage.
"Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in its place. We're still on sacred ground."
Colt also offered an apology to the American people, adding: "I sincerely apologise to the American people.
"I recognise my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country."
"In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing. I realise now that my actions were inappropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho.
"My intention wasn't to put a stain on our great country's democratic process."
Whether the US justice system accepts this apology remains to be seen.
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: World News, US News, Donald Trump, Politics