CNN identified the Capitol rioter who got a nine-second phone call from inside the White House.
Records reviewed by the outlet show that Lunyk had already left the Capitol when his phone rang. The call came from the White House's public phone number just minutes after Donald Trump posted a video encouraging his supporters to go home.
The revelation of Lunyk's identity as the mysterious call recipient came after a former technical advisor to the House Select Committee investigating the insurrection said Friday that he traced a call between a rioter and the White House switchboard.
When you see that the White House switchboard connected to a rioter's phone, it's a real "a-ha" moment. That's a really big moment.
The January 6 House select Committee downplayed Riggleman's role with the panel, as well as the importance of the phone call, suggesting that he is exaggerating the incident.
An anonymous source told CNN that the committee is still investigating the nature of the call, but has not been able to find out who made it.
CNN's sources said this week that the person who received the call was not someone who worked in the White House.
He was charged with five counts related to his role in the riot, including violent entry, disorderly and disruptive conduct, and entering or remaining in a restricted building. In April, he pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building and was sentenced to a year of supervised release, 60 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine.
The night before the riot, Lunyk traveled to Washington, DC with two of his friends. After attending the "Stop the Steal" rally, the three men joined the mob of Trump supporters in walking to the US Capitol.
Photos of Lunyk inside the Capitol show him wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat and videos from the scene captured Lunyk and his friends laughing and recording on their cellphones.
In the days after the election, Lunyk and his friends made violent jokes about the presidency being stolen, according to a sentencing memo.
Lunyk said he was going to shoot Pelosi if they took his money.
Prosecutors said the trio spent 10 minutes inside the Capitol before leaving through a window. According to CNN, the friends were already on their way back to New York when Lunyk's phone rang, and photographic evidence shows they were already on their way back to New York.
There is no mention of the phone call in the court records for Lunyk's case, and an attorney for him didn't respond to Insider's request for comment.
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