Malden man and Natick Town Meeting member arrested by FBI in connection with Capitol riots

BOSTON — Two Boston area residents are now charged in the US Capitol insurrection. Both appeared in federal court and one is being held until at least Thursday due to another legal matter. The FBI included the photo they say that shows the crime right in the criminal complaint. Neither had a mask on and they say the photo shows them inside during the rioting.

According to the FBI, the photos used in the federal complaint, show Suzanne Ianni, of Natick, and Mark Sahady, of Malden protesting outside and then inside the US Capitol during the riots.

Outside federal court, Ianni would not answer repeated questions but at one point glared at our reporter when asked about the FBI claims she unlawfully entered the Capitol.

RELATED: Natick town meeting member storms Capitol during riot

Federal investigators say Ianni can be seen in one photo inside the Capitol with her arm raised up during the mayhem that broke out after Trump supports broke in while Congress was meeting to certify the presidential election.

The FBI has been working to ID and charge people involved in the attack. According to court documents, Ianni, who is a Natick Town Meeting Member, and Sahady are both connected to a group called “Super Fun Happy America.”  The group, federal investigators explain in the complaint, advocates for the straight community.  In 2019, they hosted a “Straight Pride Parade” through the city of Boston. The FBI says Ianni organized the large group to travel to DC on nearly a dozen buses.  Super Fun Happy America’s President John Hugo told us on the phone that these two members were in Washington to peacefully protest and did not break into the Capitol.

“The doors to the Capitol were wide open,” Hugo said, “and Ianni and Sahady did not have any criminal intent.”

Natick’s Interim Town Administrator Bob Rooney sent us this statement after we inquired about Ianni’s arrest.

“The Natick Select Board supports the right of all people to engage in peaceful protests, the right to petition, and the right to free speech. The unlawful actions that occurred on January 6th, however, were an attempt to thwart the will of the American people as expressed in a legally conducted election. It was an attack on democracy itself, and we strongly condemn it.

The Select Board calls for accountability for those who acted unlawfully and for the leaders and others who encouraged or supported such actions by words and deeds.  The actions taken this morning by the FBI are a law enforcement matter, and we support the law enforcement community as they diligently continue to pursue their obligations.

Natick Town Meeting is the legislative body of the Town of Natick, and it is a representative Town Meeting.  Thus, Town Meeting members are elected by the voters, based on the precincts in which the members live. In addition, Town Meeting members are not Town employees or Town officers.  As a result, neither the Select Board, the Town Moderator, the Town Clerk, nor Town Administration have any authority over a Town Meeting member, nor could they take any action regarding the tenure of any Town Meeting member. There are recall provisions in the Natick Home Rule Charter to recall certain elected officials, but those provisions specifically exclude Town Meeting members. Any future actions that may be contemplated or undertaken by any entity regarding Ms. Ianni’s position as a Natick Town Meeting Member will be guided by the applicable legal statutes.”

Ianni and Sahady are charged with unlawfully entering the US Capitol and disorderly conduct that disrupted Government business.

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