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“I was worried about people recognizing me and thinking that I was Antifa or, like, BLM or whatever,” he told the outlet. “The entire time they’re yelling, ‘F— Antifa! F—, BLM.’ I’m not saying I’m Antifa, by any means. But I definitely believe Black Lives Matter.”
But in Sullivan’s own videos, he can be heard enthusiastically egging on the saboteurs, at one point yelling, “It’s our house, motherf—ers!”
His true motives have already been called into question by leftist activist groups online, including Rebellion Baby, which tweeted an extensive takedown accusing him of being an “infiltrator/agent provocateur.”
“John has been kicked from the #SaltLakeCity and #Portland protest scenes due to alarming behaviors including grifting/profiteering, self-promotion/clout chasing, sabotage of community actions, threats of violence, and — maybe most disturbingly — ties to the far-right,” the group tweeted on Nov. 26.
Sullivan is facing riot and criminal mischief charges for his participation in a Black Lives Matter protest in Utah in June, according to Rolling Stone.
But Rebellion Baby also pointed to Sullivan’s brother, James Sullivan, a Trump diehard who founded the conservative political organization Civilized Awakening. The group, they alleged, has “strong ties to Proud Poys — even having spoken at a Proud Boy rally.”
“The brothers’ polarized political stances conveniently bolster the other’s public personas,” Rebellion Baby noted.
In a post Friday on Facebook, James Sullivan defended his brother, writing that he knew him to be “a patriotic athlete who had a dream to represent his country at the world games as a speed skater.”
“Mainstream media corrupts, it’s important to stay wary and educated,” he wrote.
On Thursday, Rebellion Baby posted another lengthy thread calling out John Sullivan’s post-siege behavior as being dangerously narcissistic and posting a CNN clip in which he discusses witnessing Babbitt’s death.
Video shows fire extinguisher thrown at police as Capitol building stormed
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Sullivan was introduced as a “left-wing activist” on air, though Rebellion Baby called that “a claim that would obviously be denied by leftists from multiple cities who have met him.”
Trump supporters, meanwhile, have seized on Sullivan’s participation in the riots to boost their claims that Antifa infiltrated their circle and instigated the deadly siege.
A clip circulated on social media shows Sullivan with filmmaker Jade Sacker cheering right after reaching the Capitol Rotunda.
“You were right, we did it!” Sacker tells Sullivan.
https://youtu.be/bkhr2n__uIo
“I was trying to tell you — I couldn’t say much. Is this not going to be the best film you ever made in your life?” he replies.
Sullivan is federally charged with knowingly entering a restricted area, violent entry, disorderly conduct and interfering with law enforcement. A virtual court appearance is scheduled for Friday afternoon. It is unclear if he’s hired an attorney.
He’s claimed to be a journalist, telling law enforcement and media outlets that he was only inside the Capitol building to “document and report,” according to an affidavit.
But an FBI special agent noted “he has admitted, however, that he has no press credentials and the investigation has not revealed any connection between Sullivan and any journalistic organizations.”
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