BREAKING: Jan 6 defendant takes his own life

Jan 6 defendant Matthew Perna has reportedly committed suicide.

American Greatness senior writer Julie Kelly broke the news Sunday morning. "If confirmed, this defendant committed no violent crime and walked through an open door with Capitol police present," Kelly wrote in the initial tweet.

"Biden's DOJ has tried to destroy so many lives over the past year--they may have another victim," Kelly tweeted over the weekend. "If what I am hearing is true, the Biden regime and news media have blood on their hands."

"When confirmed, this story should outrage every single American. And when I say these prosecutors are sadistic, I mean it," Kelly declared on Twitter.

Kelly later wrote Sunday afternoon, "This is true. I cannot express the rage I feel after speaking with his family," further revealing: "More on this tomorrow."

Perna was charged by federal authorities with Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting, Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds, Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds, and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building.

According to the Department of Justice's case description, Perna was arrested on Jan. 19, 2021, indicted more than a month later on Feb. 25, 2021, and entered a plea agreement on Dec. 17, 2021, pleading guilty to all counts.

Perna was seen in surveillance footage inside the Capitol building wearing a red Make America Great Again hoodie. Perna maintained that he was pushed into the building by a crowd that had gathered behind him, according to the criminal complaint, and that he hadn't intended to go inside. Perna insisted that he was only in the building for only five to 10 minutes on Jan. 6, the complaint reads.

Perna's sentencing was set to take place on March 3, 2022, for charges that carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the felony, with additional penalties related to the misdemeanors, WKBN reported.

Pro-life activist and independent journalist Tayler Hansen said Perna "has been bullied to death by the DOJ."

Perna's family said, "They informed him the other day that they were pursuing additional charges. He couldn't take another day," according to Hansen.

Hansen said Perna's family is "heartbroken and angry at everyone responsible."

"This is not the first time, and will not be the last. The January 6th death toll will continue to rise if nothing is done about the over-reaching tyranny of the current Regime," Hansen declared, as Jan. 6 defendants continue to contend with the Biden administration's political witch hunt and poor detainment conditions.

Uploading photos of Pensa, Hansen confirmed on Twitter that Kelly will have a detailed story on "this grave injustice from the 'justice system' tomorrow."

"I don't know Matthew Perna, haven't studied his case or accusations against him. But he’s killed himself & I understand why. I had the same thoughts many times this past year. The deafening silence of Republicans &conservative media for ppl dragged through this hell is unbearable," commented #WalkAway founder Brandon Straka, who has faced his own battle with the Justice Department.

Last year, Jan. 6 defendant John Steven Anderson, who sought police help during the chaotic event on Capitol grounds, died while awaiting trial. The veteran of the Marine Corps and Florida Army National Guard's 3/20th Special Forces Group was arrested in February and indicted a month later on eight counts.

Anderson was granted pretrial release in March 2021 and ordered to stay away from the District of Columbia except for business related to the Jan 6 case.

"John didn't deserve what he had to endure before his death," Anderson's lawyer Marina Medvin stated, emphasizing that he was a "good-hearted man."