Sgt. Aquilino Gonell of the U.S. Capitol Police wipes away tears Tuesday as he testifies before members of the Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Pool Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI
Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (C), D-N.H., joined by Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, reacts as she speaks with Gonell following the the hearing. Pool Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI
About 140 police officers were injured and five died when they were trampled by supporters of former President Donald Trump aiming to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Tuesday marked the first hearing for the committee. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Capitol Police Pvt. Harry Dunn (R) testifies, while other officers listen. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges listens to testimony. Pool Photo by Brendan Smialowski/UPI
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., (L) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., listen as Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., speaks during the House select committee hearing. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., questions witnesses during the hearing. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Kinzinger reacts during officer testimony. Pool Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., listens during the hearing. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., listens to testimony. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone testifies, "As I was swarmed by a violent mob, they ripped off my badge, stripped me of my radio and seized ammunition that was secured to my body. They began to beat me with their fists and what felt like hard metal objects." Pool Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI
Dunn listens to testimony from other officers. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Hodges (L) and Dunn testify before the committee. Five people died. Pool Photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI
Dunn listens with his head in his hand while Hodges testifies. Pool Photo by Brendan Smialowski/UPI
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., questions witnesses during the hearing. Pool Photo by Andrew Harniki/UPI
Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speaks during the hearing. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
From left to right, Cheney greets Gonnell as Kinzinger hugs Fanone before his testimony. Pool Photo by Oliver Contreras/UPI
From left to right, Gonell, Fanone, Hodges and Dunn are sworn in to testify. Pool Photo by Andrew Harnik/UPI
Fanone (R) touches Gonell as he sits to testify. Pool Photo by Brendan Smialowski/UPI
Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A Chicago tech company executive who went inside the U.S. Capitol during the attack on Jan. 6 pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday, saying that his actions on that day resulted from the worst decision of his life.
Bradley Rukstales was president and CEO of Cogensia, a tech company in Schaumburg, Ill., when he entered the Capitol with hundreds of radical supporters of former President Donald Trump. He was ultimately charged with unlawfully parading, demonstrating and picketing inside the Capitol.
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Prosecutors said Rukstales entered the Capitol with a group of other rioters, refused orders to leave and threw a chair in the direction of police officers who were trying to secure the building. The rioters were at the Capitol to disrupt certification of Trump's electoral defeat last November.
With his plea Tuesday, Rukstales faces a maximum sentence of six months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine.
Rukstales was initially arrested in Washington, D.C., in January and was later put on a leave of absence from his company. He was ultimately fired.
In court Tuesday, Rukstales apologized for his actions on Jan. 6.
"Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place," Rukstales said in a written statement, according to The Chicago Tribune.
"It was the single worst personal decision of my life; I have no excuse for my actions and wish that I could take them back."
Cogensia CEO Joel Schiltz said at the time that Rukstales' actions were inconsistent with the company's principles.
Rukstales is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12.