Bayport man who attacked police officers and journalists during riots on Jan. 6 pleads guilty

A Bayport man admitted to spraying insecticide on police officers and attacking two journalists during the infamous January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

Peter Moloney, 60, appeared in court on Thursday October 17 and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault. He was first arrested on June 7 last year.

“He brought safety glasses, a helmet and a can of Black Flag Wasp, Hornet Yellow Jacket Killer 2.1,” federal court documents state. “This suggests that he went to the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in preparation for violence.”

Court documents also say that during the unrest on Jan. 6, at about 1:29 p.m., Moloney removed a can of insecticide from his backpack and began spraying it on officers’ faces and bodies. Prosecutors allege he sprayed the can at officers at least one other time, dragged a photographer down a flight of stairs and punched and pushed the photographer before other rioters pushed the photographer over a wall. According to an FBI agent’s affidavit, there is video evidence of the attack.

Moloney is one of more than 1,200 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riots that left five people dead. As of January this year, more than 700 people have pleaded guilty to their charges. Moloney is also one of eight Long Islanders arrested in connection with the riots.

If charged, Moloney faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years. His sentencing is scheduled for February 11.