Man Pardoned by Trump for Jan. 6 Role Arrested for Alleged Metro Assault
A Maryland man who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for his participation in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots has been taken into custody this week following accusations of assault and battery on a Washington, D.C.-area Metro train. Bryan Betancur, aged 28, is now confronting legal repercussions after allegedly recording videos of himself touching the hair of female passengers without their consent.
Metro Transit Police Investigation and Arrest
The Metro Transit Police disclosed on Monday that Betancur, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, was wanted on suspicion of assault and battery charges. Authorities confirmed that the purported incident took place on Sunday evening, shortly after 10 p.m. local time, aboard a Silver Line train serving the Clarendon Metro Station. In a social media update on Tuesday, the department announced that officers had "located and arrested" Betancur, while also urging individuals with additional information to reach out to Metro Transit Police.
Videos allegedly captured by Betancur have spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention. Police noted on Monday that they are "aware of videos circulating depicting inappropriate behavior toward Metro customers." Although they have not officially verified Betancur as the individual in the clips, the footage shows a man covertly touching women's hair while riding the Metro. One video appears to have been live-streamed from an account named "Bryan On Task."
Background: Jan. 6 Conviction and Trump Pardon
Betancur's legal history includes a guilty plea in May 2022 to one count of disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds for his actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. According to reports from The Washington Post, he was sentenced in August 2022 to four months in prison and one year of supervised release. Betancur was photographed on January 6, 2026, holding a "Certificate of Pardon" issued by Trump, who pardoned all January 6 rioters on his first day back in office last year.
Prior to his involvement in the Capitol riots, Betancur was on parole for burglary charges. He reportedly obtained permission to travel to Washington, D.C., on January 6 by informing Maryland's division of parole and probation that he intended to distribute Bibles to other attendees. At the time of the riots, Betancur was still wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor when he entered restricted areas. His 2021 indictment described him as "a self-professed white supremacist," noting that he admitted this to multiple law enforcement officers.
Mental Health and Legal Defense
In a 2022 defense memorandum, Betancur's attorney, Ubong E. Akpan, argued that his client "struggles with mental health issues." The 2021 indictment further revealed that Betancur had researched school shootings and made comments about carrying out such an attack. These details add complexity to his legal profile, intertwining mental health concerns with his criminal behavior.
The recent arrest underscores ongoing scrutiny of individuals involved in the January 6 events and raises questions about post-pardon conduct. As the case progresses, authorities continue to investigate the Metro incident, while Betancur faces renewed legal challenges stemming from his alleged actions aboard the train.
