Best Day Of My Life, South Jersey Man Said Of Capitol Riot: FBI

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — An employee at a South Jersey UPS facility who called his participation in the U.S. Capitol riot Jan. 6 “the best day of his life” has been arrested in connection with his actions that day, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Donald Smith, who works at the UPS in Lawnside, was arrested in Pennsylvania on Thursday, according to federal officials. He was arrested after the FBI received an online tip.

“I work with a man who showed up with pictures and video of him and others storming the White House,” authorities said the Jan. 12 tip read. “He says he was in Nancy Pelosis office and that it was the best day of his life. I do not condone these actions and would like to report him.”

The witness provided Smith’s name and a picture, according to officials. They received another tip naming Smith and showing a picture of him participating in the riot the following day, officials said. In all, four witnesses came forward to report Smith to authorities, officials said.

In photos obtained by authorities, Smith is seen wearing a red cap and wool scarf he often wears as he walks past a door in the Capitol on which someone wrote, “MURDER THE MEDIA,” authorities said. He is seen walking throughout the Capitol before exiting, officials said.

The witnesses told federal authorities that Smith was not at work Jan. 6 and that he bragged about storming the Capitol when he returned Jan. 7, officials said.

When asked if he stormed the Capitol, he said he did and that he “had a great time in Nancy Pelosi’s office,” witnesses told authorities.

Phone records obtained by authorities track Smith’s cell phone on that day traveling from Lindenwold to Carney’s Point to Newark, Delaware, to Aberdeen, Maryland, to Baltimore, Maryland, to Silver Spring, Maryland, and ultimately arriving in Washington, D.C., about 10:08 a.m.

He has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.