Accused Capitol Rioter from Bucks County Argues with Judge as Lawyers Attempt to Control Their Client

Tony Di Domizio | North Penn Now•

Ryan Stephen Samsel gripping a police officer.

The lawyers for a Bucks County man who has been in federal custody after allegedly concussing a police officer during the Capitol riot could not keep their client’s mouth shut during a hearing last week, in which he argued with a federal judge demanding medical treatment for his gynecomastia while in prison, per RawStory.com.

Ryan Samsel, of Bristol Borough, wants his health issues handled by prison doctors, but claims current treatment has been "abusive.” Per reports, his condition — enlarged breasts in men — can cause blood clots and circulation issues in his arms. Samsel believed his medical condition was enough reason for a pre-trial release, but U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb has refused, due to Samsel’s nine prior convictions, per the report.

Feds say Samsel has a record of violent domestic abuse, including an incident where he allegedly threw a hot pizza in his pregnant girlfriend’s face, dumped beer on her head and threw her in a canal.

According to Levittown Now, the U.S. Department of Justice called Samsel "the most dangerous category of offenders.”

Here is a short list of Samsel’s alleged extensive criminal history, per Levittown Now:

In 2006, Samsel allegedly attempted to pull a woman off the road because she owed him $60, and then allegedly punched her windshield and threatened to kill her.
In 2007, Samsel allegedly got into a man’s car and assaulted him in the face, leaving him toothless and bloodied, police said.
In 2009, Samsel was convicted on simple assault, after he choked, beat, pushed, and chipped the teeth of a woman he kept against her will for five hours.
In 2011, Samsel was convicted of simple assault, reckless endangerment and more after smashing a hot pizza in his pregnant girlfriend’s face, beating her, pouring beer over her head, and then throwing her into a canal. He then attempted to drown her, police said.
In 2015, Samsel was convicted of simple assault for choking a woman into unconsciousness and hit her so hard he gave her a hematoma, police said.
In 2019, a woman accused Samsel of choking her until unconscious, then breaking into her home and assaulting her, and then raping her, police said.

"I know it's this government torture tactics because they want me to cooperate," he said at the hearing. "I'm not a terrorist. They're the terrorists. This is wrong."

Numerous times Judge Cobb attempted to talk to Samsel, but he continued to speak over her. Cobb threatened to cut Samsel’s public line so no one could hear him talk, but he persisted and objected.

All the while, his lawyers kept telling him, "Let us do our job,” per the report.

Recently, the FBI said Samsel has been in solitary confinement for about 26 days, due to making threats to the FBI while incarcerated. While in prison, Samsel drafted a letter rife with grammatical errors that talked about putting politicians in a woodchipper.

"All these poltions(sic) in office need to go, a woodchiper(sic) sounds good," he wrote, per the report. "I’ll tell people get your wepons (sic) kiss your kidds (sic) goodbye and let’s (expletive) go!"

Investigators claim Samsel forced his way into the Capitol and attacked a female officer, who was rescued by colleagues while in a semi-conscious state, per Levittown Now. Samsel also confronted other officers and attempted to steal police gear from U.S. Capitol Police, per reports.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Samsel "forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, or interfered with a federal agent while they are engaged in their official duties; Committed or attempt to commit any act to obstruct, impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer lawfully engage in the lawful performance of his official duties; Obstructed, influenced, or impeded any official proceeding, or attempt to do so.”

Samsel was indicted Aug. 25, 2021. Read more on Samsel’s history of violence here.