Jan. 6 rioter files for Queens Assembly seat
/
Phillip Grillo, a convicted Jan. 6 rioter and former Queens Republican district leader who was later pardoned by President Donald Trump, is running for the State Assembly. File photo via Facebook
By Ryan Schwach
A former Queens Republican district leader who was convicted for storming the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection filed to run for the State Assembly, a little more than a year after he was pardoned for the crimes by President Donald Trump.
Phillip S. Grillo, a former Queens GOP member and district leader, has filed to challenge Democratic incumbent State Assemblymember Ed Braunstein in Eastern Queens.
Grillo is not the only Republican candidate vying for the seat and will first have to win a primary race against Queens County Republican Party-backed candidate Robert J. Speranza before facing off against the incumbent.
Grillo, once a prominent member of the Queens GOP who went by the name "Republican Messiah” on social media, was arrested in 2023 and later convicted of several crimes for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, where he was among the rioters who stormed the Capitol building to oppose the results of the 2020 election.
The Glen Oaks resident was seen on the Capitol grounds during the riot, entering the Capitol building via a broken window while holding a megaphone.
He recorded several videos of himself during the insurrection, screaming in one, “We f— did it! We got to the Capitol building. We f—did it! We f— did it, baby! We f— did it, you understand? We stormed the Capitol. We shut it down! We did it!”
Grillo was convicted of five charges, including one felony, by a federal jury in Washington in 2023. He was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
But not long after his conviction, Grillo became one of the 1,500 people involved with the insurrection pardoned by Trump at the start of his second term.
Grillo saw the pardon coming. At his sentencing, he reportedly yelled at a judge, telling them, “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways.”
Grillo’s Assembly campaign is not his first for public office.
He previously ran to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional district following the expulsion of disgraced former Rep. George Santos. He also previously ran in a special election for the City Council.
Grillo could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Queens County Republican Party chairman Tony Nunziato said the party intends to endorse Speranza for the seat but welcomed Grillo’s candidacy.
“Everybody has the right to run,” Nunziato said. “God bless. That's all I can tell you.”
Braunstein did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
