EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — FBI agents arrested an Eau Claire man who posted online photos of himself inside the U.S. Capitol during the ransacking last week. The arrest of Kevin Daniel Loftus, 52, was on a warrant signed by a federal judge in Madison. One charge: Knowingly entering the Capitol violently and without lawful authority. A second charge: Disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Loftus was held pending a virtual court appearance before a judge in Madison. The FBI went after Loftus on the basis of social media photos posted in his name. The images showed a man wearing a dark olive military-style coat, a hat, glasses, and a backpack. Although the photo is cut off mid-torso, the man’s T-shirt appears emblazoned with a logo for QAnon tight-wing conspiracists. In one photo the man was carrying an American flag in his hand. Another image shows the man running and appearing to be hiding the flag. There was accompanying commentary:
> “One of 700 inside.”
>“That’s right folks, some of us are in it to win it.”
> “Girl was killed inside too.”
>“I am wanted by the FBI for illegal entry.”
One image on Facebook, picked up from the New York Post, shows a group of people from the Capitol siege. “I’m second from the end, bottom row,” the caption said.
FBI at work
FBI agents showed up Friday in Eau Claire with questions about Loftus. They had his Wisconsin driver license photo. They knew about a 2019 divorce. They knew he had lived in Chippewa Falls but not how recently. They interviewed classmates from high school 35 years ago. They also talked with people at the Westgate Motel in Eau Claire, which he at one point listed as his address. On Saturday the agents interviewed Loftus. They said he admitted to being inside the Capitol and walking around. The arrest was Tuesday.
Loftus address. 1439 North Fairmont Avenue in Eau Claire.
