Metro Railroad Worker Suspended For Calling In Sick To Join Capitol Riot

A worker for the Metro-North Railroad has been arrested in New York on Tuesday for joining the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol. William Pepe has also been suspended without pay from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority after it was found out that he had called in sick to join the rally.

According to ABC 7 News New York, the Metro North employee was recognized by his colleagues and management from a photo distributed by law enforcement.

The MTA management moved swiftly to suspend Pepe without pay amid FBI investigations. Charges are set to be filed against him next week for his involvement in the Capitol riot as well as for improperly charging his absence to sick leave. The MTA Labor Relations is also seeking to terminate Pepe.

A spokesperson from the MTA stated:

"Effective immediately this individual has been suspended from Metro-North without pay and will be disciplined in accordance with his collective bargaining agreement pending an investigation," said Ken Lovett of the MTA. "This alleged conduct is abhorrent and goes against the values of Metro-North, New York and the nation."

The 31-year-old laborer was hired six years ago and until now was assigned to the Mechanical Department as a laborer in the Brewster Yard in New York.

As FBI investigations continue to intensify its nationwide manhunt for those involved in the Capitol siege last week, arrests have been made on some of the more than 170 riot suspects. While these suspects may have departed Washington DC and have returned to their homes across the country, agents have been sifting through over 100,000 digital tips and photos that have brought on federal charges against more than 70 people, The New York Times reported.

Law enforcement officials said many are facing charges including unlawful entry and disorderly conduct, but some are expected to receive more grievous charges that include sedition.

Investigations are also being ramped up for the deaths that occurred during the riot.

The death of Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick is being investigated as a possible murder as he was allegedly struck with a fire extinguisher. A second Capitol police officer, Howard Liebengood, died by suicide on Saturday and Christopher Stanton Georgia, a 53-year-old Georgia man who was arrested in D.C., also died by suicide over the weekend.

Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, 35, was shot and killed by Capitol police while three others–Rosanne Boyland, 34, Kevin Greeson, 55; and Benjamin Phillips, 50–died from what cops described as “medical emergencies.”