Moloney Funeral Homes co-owner arrested on felony charges in Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Peter Moloney, of Bayport, is accused of assaulting a law enforcement office and a member of the media.

Thema Ponton

Jun 7, 2023, 4:20 PM

Updated 491 days ago

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The U.S. district attorney says one of the co-owners of Maloney Family Funeral Homes has been arrested on felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer and a member of the media, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Authorities say the actions of Peter G. Moloney disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Moloney, 58, of Bayport, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, civil disorder, assault by striking, entering, and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and other charges.
According to federal authorities, "Moloney did not simply march to the Capitol with other protesters. He brought protective eyewear, a helmet and a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet & Yellow Jacket Killer. That indicates that he went to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, prepared for violence." They say he repeatedly used the bug spray he brought on law enforcement officers.
On two separate occasions, Moloney is also accused of joining other rioters and hitting people the mob believed to be members of the media.
Moloney was arrested Wednesday in Bayport.
Court documents say Moloney was among the early members of a mob illegally massed on the West Plaza of the Capitol during the initial breach of the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6.
Maloney did not answer questions as he walked out of federal court in Central Islip.
The judge set his bond at $100,000, which was met.
Moloney's attorney, Edward Heilig, said they just received the charges Wednesday and haven't had the time to fully review them.
"I plan on doing that and we may have a comment in the future with regard to those charges," Heilig says.
Dan Moloney, of Moloney Funeral Homes released a statement saying, "For over 90 years the Moloney family has served our neighbors during their most trying times and has a long and proud history of supporting the law enforcement and first responder communities. The alleged actions taken by an individual on his own time are in no way reflective of the core values of Moloney Funeral Home, which is dedicated to earning and maintaining the trust of all members of the community of every race, religion and nationality."
The case will be prosecuted in Washington D.C. by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Moloney's legal team says they will enter a plea on the charges on June 20.
Photo: Insurrections loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP File Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)