Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- January 6, 2021
- Location
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Targets
- Erin Schaff (The New York Times)
- Assailant
- Private individual
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
- Equipment Broken
- Actor
- Private individual
Equipment Damage
Crowds storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, contesting the certification of the presidential election results. New York Times reporter Erin Schaff wrote that she was assaulted and her camera and press credentials were stolen by rioters that day.
Journalist’s assailants pardoned by Trump
Two brothers charged with assaulting New York Times photojournalist Erin Schaff and stealing her camera at the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, were pardoned by President Donald Trump through an executive order on the first day of Trump’s second presidential term.
Trump’s pardon, issued on Jan. 20, 2025, released from further punishment all those charged or convicted for actions relating to the Capitol attack. The case against brothers Philip and David Walker was dismissed Jan. 22, according to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
Schaff wrote in the Times that she was documenting the riot when two or three men surrounded her, threw her to the floor and grabbed one of her cameras, breaking a lens on the other. She wrote that the crowd looked on as she screamed for help.
The Walkers were arrested in September 2024 and charged with assaulting and robbing an unnamed individual, who the Times identified as Schaff. Philip Walker admitted to stealing Schaff’s camera and later dumping it in a body of water.
Two men charged with assault, robbery of NY Times photojournalist at Capitol riot
Two brothers were arrested on Sept. 12, 2024, and charged with felony offenses for the alleged assault and robbery of New York Times photojournalist Erin Schaff during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, according to court documents reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
The complaint against Philip and David Walker — of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively — alleges that both men were involved in the assault of an unidentified individual who was pushed to the ground at the top of the East Rotunda stairs. They were then seen carrying the individual’s photographic equipment.
When the individual pursued them and attempted to retrieve the camera, David Walker pushed them again. Philip Walker later admitted to law enforcement that he disposed of the camera in a body of water while en route to his residence in Pennsylvania.
The Times identified Schaff as the victim in a report about the Walkers’ arrests. A spokesperson for the Times said the news organization was grateful for the persistence of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington in pursuing justice for Schaff.
“Independent, fact-based journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, and attacks against reporters should be a grave concern to anyone who cares about an informed citizenry,” added Danielle Rhoades Ha in a statement to the outlet.
The Walkers were both charged with felony counts of federal robbery and assault with the intent to commit a felony, as well as seven misdemeanor offenses, including assault and disorderly conduct. Philip Walker is additionally charged with destruction of property for disposal of Schaff’s camera.
A Pennsylvania woman, Sandra “Sandy” Pomeroy Weyer, was convicted on charges for encouraging the assault and sentenced in September 2023 to 14 months in prison and one year of supervised release.
Pennsylvania woman sentenced for actions during J6 riot
A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced on Sept. 14, 2023, on charges connected to her involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and the assault of a New York Times photojournalist, according to court documents reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.
According to an affidavit filed by the FBI, Sandra “Sandy” Pomeroy Weyer filmed and encouraged an attack on Times photographer Erin Schaff as she was surrounded and assaulted by a group of rioters. Weyer was found guilty in June 2023 on five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, and disorderly conduct and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
At the September hearing, Weyer was sentenced to 14 months in prison, one year of supervised release, $170 in fines and $2,000 in restitution, a clerk for the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, confirmed via email to the Tracker.
Pennsylvania woman found guilty on charges connected to assault of photojournalist
A Pennsylvania woman was convicted on June 6, 2023, on five counts stemming from her involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol and the assault of a New York Times photojournalist.
Sandra “Sandy” Pomeroy Weyer was charged with five counts, including obstruction, entering a restricted building and disorderly and disruptive conduct. According to an affidavit filed by the FBI, Weyer filmed and egged on the attack on Times photographer Erin Schaff as she was surrounded and assaulted by a group of rioters.
Weyer was found guilty on all counts during a bench trial on June 6. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 14.
Pennsylvania woman charged in connection to assault of NYT photojournalist during Capitol riot
A Pennsylvania woman was charged and arrested on June 28, 2021, in connection with the assault of a New York Times photojournalist during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
An affidavit and arrest warrant issued by the FBI identified Sandra "Sandy" Pomeroy Weyer as capturing a video of and encouraging the attack on Times photographer Erin Schaff as she was surrounded and assaulted by a group of rioters. In the video, Weyer is heard yelling, “Get her out, mace her,” as Schaff was pushed backward repeatedly.
According to the FBI, Weyer addressed Schaff's assault in a since-removed Facebook video outside of the Capitol, saying, “[t]he woman who was screaming in the Capitol was, um, anti-Trump, let’s put it that way, that’s why they removed her.”
On Aug. 11, 2021, Weyer was indicted on five counts, including obstruction, entering a restricted building, and disorderly and disruptive conduct.
Find all assaults, detainments and equipment damages against journalists from Jan. 6, 2021, events here, and all persons charged with crimes against the media here.
New York Times reporter Erin Schaff wrote that she was assaulted, one of her cameras stolen and the lens of a second broken by rioters as they stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021.
A riot broke out as supporters of President Donald Trump marched on the Capitol, swarmed the building and broke inside in an attempt to disrupt the Congressional certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, Reuters reported. At a noon rally held in front of the White House, Trump called on his supporters to protest the vote on the basis of unfounded claims of election fraud. According to Reuters, the building was breached at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Schaff, who did not respond to a request for comment, wrote in an account published by the Times that she followed the noise of protesters on the first floor of the Senate side of the building.
Schaff recounted that the single Capitol Police officer guarding the ceremonial doors to the Rotunda was rushed by the crowd, forcing open the door.
“I ran upstairs to be out of the way of the crowd, and to get a better vantage point to document what was happening. Suddenly, two or three men in black surrounded me and demanded to know who I worked for,” Schaff wrote.
“Grabbing my press pass, they saw that my ID said The New York Times and became really angry. They threw me to the floor, trying to take my cameras. I started screaming for help as loudly as I could. No one came. People just watched. At this point, I thought I could be killed and no one would stop them. They ripped one of my cameras away from me, broke a lens on the other and ran away.”
Schaff’s congressional press credentials were also stolen in the attack.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is documenting multiple assaults, detainments and equipment damages from Jan. 6 events. Find those here.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
