Lawyers for a man accused of stealing the radio and badge from an officer during the Capitol riot have requested that his ban on using social media be loosened, so he can hunt for a job and try to find a date.
Thomas Sibick is accused of 10 counts in connection with the January 6 riot.
He was seen on video footage in the mob that accosted Officer Michael Fanone, a member of the Metropolitan police, and was seen brandishing Fanone's radio and badge.
Fanone, 40, who had months of therapy and treatment in the aftermath of the attack, has become one of the most high profile officers caught up in the unrest, and announced this month that he is leaving the force and joining CNN as a commentator.
Sibick was also seen in photos posing with a shield belonging to a member of the Capitol Police force.
Thomas Sibick is seen on January 6 posing with a stolen shield from a Capitol Police officer. He also stole the radio and badge of a Metropolitan Police officer, Michael Fanone
Sibick is seen during the January 6 insurrection, circled, amid the crowd
Fanone, the Metropolitan Police officer, is seen being jostled by the mob on January 6
Sibick posted to social medial about his experiences at the Capitol on January 6
Yet over Christmas his lawyer, Stephen Brennwald, requested that Judge Amy Berman Jackson relax her social media ban, implemented when she allowed him freed under house arrest.
'He is not seeking to use any social media application for any prohibited purpose, such as for political engagement, news reading, or any other activity that would violate not only the letter, but the spirit, of his release conditions,' Brennwald wrote in the court documents, obtained by Insider.
'Mr. Sibick realizes that if he were to meet someone on a social media site, he would be unable to leave his home for the purpose of going to dinner or to participate in other events.
'He does, however, feel the need to establish some sort of connection with someone (if possible, in light of his situation).'
Under the terms of Berman Jackson's ruling, issued in October, Sibick was ordered to avoid political rallies, political talk shows, and not enter Washington DC.
She is yet to respond to Sibick's request.
Fanone is seeing being stripped of his radio and badge on January 6
Sibick can be seen clasping Fanone's badge, in footage shown in court
Sibick has said that he regrets his role in the riot, and blamed Donald Trump for inciting the unrest
The New York-born Sibick has apologized for the role he played in the riot
Michael Fanone is seen testifying about his experiences on July 27
Fanone's muddied badge was later returned. Sibick buried it in his garden, he finally admitted
Sibick was first questioned by the FBI on January 27.
He told them that he left Fanone's badge and radio at the site. He then changed his story to say they were in a dumpster; he finally admitted he had buried them in his garden, and returned the badge. The radio has never been recovered.
Sibick was indicted on 10 counts, according to Buffalo News: obstruction of an official proceeding, and aiding and abetting; civil disorder; assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; robbery; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; impeding ingress and egress in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
He pleaded not guilty.
Sibick was denied bail, and accused of having 'repeatedly lied' to investigators.
In October he was allowed to be released until his trial.
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