James Cusick, a 73 year old Purple Heart Vietnam War Veteran and pastor, was arrested by the FBI at his home in Florida for being at the Capitol on January 6 despite not partaking in any violent activity or vandalism.
The horrific story was originally published by the Gateway Pundit’s Cassandra Fairbanks, who reported that “His son Casey, was also arrested in front of his distraught 3-year-old daughter who asked why they were locking her dad’s hands. He is also not accused of any violence or vandalism. Videos of the heartbreaking scene were provided to the Gateway Pundit.”
“This morning I saw a sheriff pull up in our driveway with his lights on and there was about four or five other cars with them,” his daughter Stacey told the Gateway Pundit. “They came up to our front door and I told my dad to go answer it. As he started towards the door they started banging and banging and saying ‘open up we have a warrant.’ He opened the door and they asked him his name and to step outside.”
Stacey explained that the officers saw her standing in the kitchen and told her to go outside to the front yard. It was here that she witnessed law enforcement apprehending her elderly father. “They asked me my name and I told them I was his daughter Stacey. They said they were not looking for me, but told me to put my hands on the back of the sheriff’s vehicle. My dad asked what it was about and they told him it was because he entered the Capitol building on January 6.”
“I asked him if they would take the handcuffs off of him because I was upset seeing my 73-year-old father in handcuffs. They said no,” Stacey said. A particularly disturbing revelation in the report was that the search warrant, provided to The Gateway Pundit, “showed that they were looking for any clothing he wore during the protest — specifically including a red hat that read “Trump” on the front. After a search and some questioning, they took Stacey and her father inside and asked him to get the clothing items he wore that day, which he did.”
“I told them that my dad is a veteran and he has never ever been in trouble with the law. They told me that they understand that, but ‘he did break the law,’” she said. “They said that they understand that and that they’re ‘not the bad guys, we’re just here doing what we’re told,’” Stacey said. “My dad loves this country. He volunteered to go to Vietnam and fight. He served 16 months there proudly. He has taken so many kids on trips to Washington, DC, to let them see this great country. He’s very passionate about this nation. He’s a pastor and he holds the Constitution in a very high regard. He hates what is happening to this country, but he would never vandalize or harm any government property, or anything for that matter. He’s a very upstanding man and I was devastated to see him taken away.”
Stacey added that “there’s just no reason for it. He did nothing to deserve what we saw this morning. I don’t understand why they would feel okay doing this to someone like him. I think they felt bad about it, but they kept saying it’s their job.” She also noted that it made her feel uneasy to know that people who see how wrong the situation was would still be willing to carry it out “because it’s their job.”
While the police and FBI were arresting the Vietnam veteran and pastor, they were simultaneously visiting the homes of his friend and son, who were subsequently taken into custody. Videos of Casey’s arrest were captured on a Ring doorbell system and given to Gateway Pundit’s Cassandra Fairbanks.
“My brother lives in another town close by, about 15 minutes away,” Stacey explained. “He was arrested just before my father was arrested, but we did not know at the time.” His three year old daughter, Stacey explained, “was standing right there saying ‘why are they locking his hands, mommy?’”
Stacey maintains that her brother is not violent and would never support vandalism, and that their group never saw any on January 6. Her fathers friend was arrested around the same time after he was on his way back from bringing his wife to the heart doctor. “As they pulled into their neighborhood, the FBI was waiting for him,” Stacey explained. “They arrested him right in the street in front of all his neighbors.”
“The process obviously continues of federal authorities rounding up American citizens with respect to January 6th. The NCLU is honored to be stepping in to provide support for these defendants and their lawyers,” Pierce said. “It is a very unique, difficult and uncertain time in American history. What is certain is that these defendants will be pleading not guilty to all charges. We look forward to trial and getting to the bottom of what actually happened on January 6th.” Cassandra Fairbanks’ original report can be found on The Gateway Pundit‘s website.