Man escapes from Capitol riot

Paul Kovacik, a 56-year-old Wisconsin man, has been charged with defying a court order to surrender and serve a three-month prison sentence for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. After initially fleeing to Ireland and seeking asylum, Kovacik voluntarily returned to the U.S. last month, citing homesickness. He is currently incarcerated in a federal prison in Chicago, with a scheduled release date of September 8, 2023, although new charges could extend his sentence. Kovacik has a lengthy criminal record with 24 prior convictions and had previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the Capitol riot. He recorded videos during the riot and posted them on his YouTube channel, which included inflammatory titles. Kovacik referred to himself as a 'political prisoner' when questioned by authorities after his arrest at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.