Tyler Campanella, the stepson of former "Real Housewives of New Jersey" cast member Siggy Flicker, has been arrested on charges related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building, according to court documents.
The Context
More than 1,200 individuals have been charged for their alleged involvement in the riot, which saw a group of the former president's supporters violently protest the 2020 election results.
Trump, who is also facing charges related to January 6, has continually claimed the 2020 election was stolen via widespread voter fraud, though these claims remain unproven.
What We Know
According to court documents, an arrest warrant dated January 26, 2024, was executed on Wednesday in New York.
He faces five charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in the gallery of Congress; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building.
Flicker is a supporter of Trump who has frequently been pictured attending events at Mar-a-Lago. She appeared as a full-time cast member on seasons 7 and 8 of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," but has not appeared in any capacity in more recent seasons.
Authorities identified Campanella as allegedly attending the riot via phone records that indicated his phone was inside the Capitol on January 6, according to documents.
The documents highlighted a social media post from Flicker from the day of the riot that indicated Campanella was in attendance. It read, "I love patriots so much. Stay safe Tyler. We love you. #StopTheSteal." In a January 13, 2021, video posted to social media, she said she was in Florida at the time.
"I'm getting fake news alerts again. Supposedly they're saying that I was at the Capitol on January 6 for the rally. Not me," she said.
Flicker, however, has not been accused of attending the riot.
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that footage from the riot appeared to show him entering former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suite.
Newsweek reached out to Flicker for comment via Instagram message.
Views
News of his arrest drew a reaction from fans of the Real Housewives franchise.
"She outed him," wrote @LoveCindyCee, adding a laughing and facepalm emoji.
"Birds of a feather flock together," wrote Gibson Johns, host of the Gabbling with Gib podcast.
"There's always a Housewives angle," wrote Mother Jones writer Julianne McShane.
What's Next
Neither Campanella nor Flicker have commented on the arrest publicly.
It remained unclear when his next court appearance would be.
Update 4/17/2024 2:40 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 4/17/2024 3:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
