The Bucks County man accused by federal authorities of partaking in the January 6 attack of the U.S. Capitol has been placed in administrative segregation in prison because he is “potentially at risk,” according to testimony given in court Thursday.
Ryan Stephen Samsel, 37, has been jailed since his late January local arrest by federal authorities for taking part in the insurrection in Washington D.C. He has bounced between jails, tried to return to custody in Pennsylvania, and reportedly was badly attacked in one correctional facility.
Samsel’s new attorney John Pierce, who has represented accused killer Kyle Rittenhouse and lawyer to then-President Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani, wrote in a recent status update to the court that Samsel is on lockdown in the Central Virginia Regional Jail about two hours from Washington D.C.
While Samsel has been in so-called administrative segregation due to a potential risk, it was not made clear why in court.
“Further, Mr. Samsel has been wrongfully assigned the status of “sex offender” from Major Haywood of Central Virginia Regional. Because of such status Mr. Samsel has been moved to a cell that he is not allowed to leave,” Pierce wrote to the court.
During Thursday afternoon’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney April Russo clarified that Samsel is not a sex offender and Pierce said the jail was informed of that.
There was some discussion that Samsel could be seeking new or additional counsel for his case.
Samsel was not part of the hearing, but another will be scheduled when more information was obtained on his representation.
Samsel switched from a Central Pennsylvania attorney to Pierce recently. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said that the issue needs to be sorted out.
Samsel is worried he might need “major surgery” due to his injuries and is concerned about recovering while in custody at the Central Virginia Regional Jail.
The judge was briefed that Samsel had three appointments Thursday with doctors at University of Virginia medical centers after he wanted a second opinion following an evaluation from prison medical staff. The doctor’s opinions on Samsel potentially needing surgery will be coming in the future.
In response to worries that Samsel had concerns over potential surgery recovery while in custody, a representative from the U.S. Marshal’s Service said they were confident he would get appropriate care while behind bars.
The prosecutor stated during the Thursday hearing that they had heard Raechel Genco, 38, of Bristol Township’s Levittown section, who is charged with going to Washington D.C. with Samsel and breaching Capitol grounds, has attempted to contact Samsel, her boyfriend. Samsel’s attorney said he wasn’t sure if that was true.
Court records indicated Genco is out of prison but with federal monitoring while she awaits a preliminary hearing in fall.
The U.S. Department of Justice will be holding a grand jury for Samsel in mid-August and an indictment is expected shortly after. While Samsel has been charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with a federal agent while they were engaged in their official duties; committed or attempted to commit any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of official duties; and obstructed, influenced, or impeded any official proceeding or attempted to do so, he has not yet been indicted.
The prosecutor has said Samsel is among “most dangerous category of offenders” connected to the Capitol attack.
Samsel has a history of violence, largely against women, over his adult life. In one case, he attacked his pregnant girlfriend, smashed hot pizza in her face, beat her, and held her head under water, according to court papers.
During the January 6 insurrection, Samsel was among the first groups to break through the police lines at the Capitol complex. He attacked a female federal police officer. She suffered a brain injury and had not yet returned to full duty in June, authorities said.
“You have stolen moments away from me that I can’t get back … You stole months of me working alongside this country’s most dedicated police officers,” the officer said to Samsel in a written statement to the court.
In addition to breaking the police line and attacking the officer, Samsel has been accused of confronting other officers and attempting to steal gear from a uniformed U.S. Capitol police officer, the FBI said.
See also:
Bucks County Man Charged In Capitol Attack Transferred To PA Custody
Feds: Bucks County Man Arrested In Capitol Attack Has ‘Extensive History’ Of Violence
FBI Capitol Riot Investigators Arrest Another Person From Bucks County
Wife’s Facebook Posts Helped FBI Nab Bucks County Man On Capitol Riot-Related Charges
