FBI arrests New Hanover County Moms for Liberty leader in connection with Jan. 6

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County woman tied to the New Hanover County chapter of Moms for Liberty now faces charges in the January 6 assault on the US Capitol.

Justina Nicole Guardino, 32, was arrested last week. She was recently listed as the vice-chair of the chapter’s vice-chair, but her picture is now removed from the website.

Guardino admitted to entering the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot, according to federal court documents filed last week.

The FBI initiated its investigation into Guardino after receiving information suggesting she had been present during the attack. On August 2, 2022, law enforcement interviewed Guardino at her Wilmington home, where she initially claimed she had returned to her hotel after attending the rally held by then-President Donald Trump. However, Guardino later admitted she had left her hotel after seeing news coverage of the riot and walked to the U.S. Capitol grounds.

Guardino told law enforcement that by the time she arrived, she saw no barriers, weapons, or acts of violence. She described the interior of the Capitol as “peaceful” and said her path through the building felt like a tour. However, Guardino acknowledged she had never visited the Capitol before and had not gone through any security measures upon entering the building, eventually admitting that her entry was not part of a public tour.

Law enforcement showed Guardino images from security footage inside the Capitol, which she confirmed depicted her. Records obtained from Verizon also showed her cellphone was inside the Capitol at the time of the incident. Further review of images and videos placed Guardino on the Upper West Terrace and near the Senate Wing Door, where she was seen entering the Capitol twice, once through a window.

According to arrest warrants, Guardino is charged with the following:

8 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) – Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds;
18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)() – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; 40
U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(D) – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings; 40
U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(G) – Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building

Guardino’s actions are part of the ongoing federal investigation into the events of January 6, 2021.