Georgia woman, mother of ‘zip tie guy’ arrested after Capitol riots

ATLANTA — Police have arrested a Georgia woman who traveled with Eric Gavelek Munchel, the man who was photographed in the U.S. Capitol wearing military gear and carrying weapons and zip ties.

Lisa Marie Eisenhart, who is Munchel’s mother according to charging documents, was charged with conspiracy “with persons known and unknown,” according to a news release from the Department of Justice. Eisenhart was taken into custody Saturday in Nashville.

Eric Munchel, 30, lives in Nashville but once lived in DeKalb and Fulton counties, Channel 2 Action News learned.

Munchel’s Facebook page, also contained in the warrant, say he is from Blue Ridge an attended Fannin County High School. The page was removed on Jan. 9.

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Eisenhart showed a Georgia driver’s license when getting the pair a hotel room in Washington, D.C. Video surveillance showed both Eisenhart and Muchel on the Senate floor after the U.S. Capitol was breached.

“As the Congress was engaged in the official business of certifying the electoral college vote, Eisenhart and Munchel knowingly and willfully joined a mob of individuals to forcibly enter the U.S. Capitol with the intent to cause a civil disturbance designed to impede, disrupt, and disturb the orderly conduct of business by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate,” court documents read.

Video footage reviewed by federal agents showed Eisenhart and Munchel in the vicinity of the mob of individuals attacking Capitol police officers. Video footage also showed both of them inside the Senate chambers.

Munchel, who was arrested in Tennessee, was charged with one count of knowingly entering a restricted building and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct, The Washington Post reported. Since then, he has additionally been charged with conspiracy and civil disorder.

FBI documents show that Eisenhart will face the same four charges. Police said the mother and son will face a judge on Tuesday. It’s unclear if they have retained legal counsel.

Eisenhart was also caught on surveillance cameras holding the plastic restraints. She also gave an interview in which she said that “This country was founded on revolution. I’d rather die a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression. I’d rather die and would rather fight.”

Federal charging documents said that Munchel and Eisenhart shared a P.O. box in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

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