CAPITOL RIOT: Aaron Mostofsky, son of Brooklyn judge, charged
The fur-loving son of a prominent Brooklyn judge touted his “caveman” getup to a pal during the US Capitol riots last week — but was dismayed to learn his photo was turned into a viral meme, according to new court papers.
The feds took the unusual step of including the Instagram post in their filing that charges Aaron Mostofsky, 34, with four counts in the deadly protests at the nation’s capital, including theft of government property, illegal entry into a restricted area and disorderly conduct.
In papers unsealed on Tuesday, authorities said Mostofsky blabbed about heading down to DC on social media, including telling a pal he was trying to meet up with at the rally, “If we find each other look for a guy looking like a caveman.”
He was captured in a video taken by The Post inside the Capitol building dressed in fur pelts and toting a walking stick — as well as wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a riot shield belonging to the US Capitol Police, according to the statement of facts.
Photos were also taken of Mostofsky that day — one of him with a deer-in-headlights expression that was turned into a meme stating, “IMAGINE COMING OFF 10 HITS OF ACID AND U LOOK AROUND AND UR IN THE US CAPITOL LIKE S–T.”
After obtaining a search warrant for Mostofsky’s Instagram account, the FBI found that someone sent him the meme, writing, “Your famous.”
“IK unfortunately,” Mostofsky allegedly replied, using shorthand for “I know.” “Now people actually know me.”
During the same conversation, Mostofsky wrote of his presence at the Capitol, saying, “But it was like I’m here now how did I get there.”
Clad in the bulletproof vest and holding the riot shield, Mostofsky told The Post on video that “the election was stolen,” insisting that “75 million people voted for Trump” — details that appear in the federal court papers.
The FBI said the bulletproof vest is valued at $1,905 and the riot shield is worth $256.
“In the interview ‘Aaron’ states that he took a police riot shield that he found on [the] floor,” the filing alleges. “‘Aaron then motioned to the police vest on his chest, in what appears to be him indicating that he also found that item on the floor and took it into his possession.”
The FBI reviewed Mostofsky’s social media accounts and found videos that they believe were taken by the wannabe revolutionary inside and outside the US Capitol. In one clip labeled “DC bound stopthesteal,” Mostofsky appears to film himself on a bus en route to the Capitol.
Five people died during the pro-Trump riots on Wednesday. The angry mob scaled walls and shattered windows in stunning scenes of mayhem.
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