Capitol rioter who dragged a cop down stairs 'is bodybuilder who appeared on the covers of raunchy romance novels including one where character bedded STEPSISTER and was caught thanks to his Instagram thirst traps'

A suspected Capitol rioter arrested for allegedly dragging a cop down a flight of stairs is a competitive bodybuilder who appeared on the covers of raunchy romance novels, including one where the main character bedded his stepsister. 

Logan Barnhart, 40, from Lansing, Michigan, was taken into custody by the FBI Tuesday on suspicion of assaulting federal police officers more than seven months after he allegedly took part in the violent insurrection of January 6.  

Barnhart was identified by online sleuths Sedition Hunters thanks a series of flesh-baring 'thirst trap' selfies he posted on Instagram, it is claimed.

He is said to be the same man spotted in harrowing footage pulling a cop down stairs at the Capitol, before the officer was violently beaten with a flagpole by another rioter. 

That man was one of the most high-profile suspects being hunted by authorities and the Sedition Hunters, who dubbed him 'CatSweat' because he was sporting a Caterpillar sweatshirt at the time of the attacks.  

A Capitol rioter arrested for dragging a cop down a flight of stairs has been identified as a competitive bodybuilder who appeared on the covers of raunchy romance novels, including 'Stepbrother UnSEALed: A Bad Boy Military Romance', where his character beds his stepsister

Logan Barnhart, 40, from Lansing, Michigan, was taken into custody by the FBI Tuesday on suspicion of assaulting federal police officers more than seven months after he allegedly took part in the violent insurrection of January 6. Barnhart pictured January 6

In the images captured on January 6, Barnhart is also sporting sunglasses and an American flag baseball cap. 

Footage and photos obtained by the sleuths show him brandishing a selfie stick, seemingly recording his own footage of the mob, at 2pm. 

Just over two hours later at 4:11pm he is seen in the throes of the mob pulling the officer down the steps outside a tunnel on the western side of the building. 

Barnhart evaded capture for several months after the attack until his own Instagram thirst led to his downfall, according to the Huffington Post. 

The net closed in when the sleuths found the 2pm footage of Barnhart minus his sunglasses and used facial recognition technology to find his Instagram account where he had posted a photo of himself in the same hat in July 2019 and another photo of him in the same Caterpillar sweatshirt in August 2020.

The facial recognition technology also revealed a sprawling online presence including numerous videos of him working out in preparation for bodybuilding competitions and him modeling on the book covers of raunchy novels.

Barnhart poses on the cover of one book called 'Stepbrother UnSEALed: A Bad Boy Military Romance', shirtless and showing off his numerous chest and arm tattoos, and a smoldering look.

In the novel, by Nicole Snow, the reader follows the forbidden love of step-siblings Delia and Chris. 

'I almost landed in my stepbrother's bed, and I want it to happen again. I'm too good for him. 

'He's too crude for me. Fantasy is where this twisted thing should end,' reads part of the synopsis. The book itself includes graphic sex scenes within its first few pages, including an encounter against the outside wall of Delia's father's beach bar.

Barnhart also flaunts his toned physique on his Facebook page, called Logan Barnhart - National Physique Competitor and Fitness Trainer

Barnhart (pictured on Facebook) was arrested Tuesday and charged with federal offenses including assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, aiding and abetting and other charges

Barnhart also adorns the cover of another forbidden romance novel called 'Lighter' by Mila Cole. 

He is less heavily tattooed in the image and gazes off to the side of the cover of the book which tells the story of the romance between an older man and a younger woman.  

Barnhart also flaunts his toned physique on his Facebook page, called Logan Barnhart - National Physique Competitor and Fitness Trainer.

Barnhart also adorns the cover of another forbidden romance novel called 'Lighter' by Mila Cole

His YouTube page, which has 92 subscribers, is also filled with videos of him working out in the gym. 

The most recent video posted was in May 2016 and is described as being four weeks from 'Jr nationals'. 

More recently, the bodybuilder posted videos of himself flexing his muscles on his now-private Instagram page and Gab page where he goes by the handle @Knuckle_Sandwich35 and describes himself as 'carnivore, patriot, fitness enthusiast' and 'pipe layer\heavy machine operator.' 

In one video, he poses shirtless in the same hat he wore at the MAGA mob riot. 

By day, Barnhart works as a machine operator for his father's contracting business Barnhart & Son Inc., which is based out of Holt, Michigan, reported HuffPo. 

The Trump supporter had boasted online that he would make an appearance at the Capitol on January 6.

A tweet, unearthed by HuffPo, shows he replied to a tweet from Donald Trump on January 3 where the former president urged people to descend on the Capitol that day.

'I will be there. Historic day!' Trump wrote, to which Barnhart replied: 'I'll be there.'

After the riot, he continued to post about the violence on social media. 

Barnhart is allegedly the man in the Caterpillar sweatshirt dragging the cop down the stairs

He was one of the most high-profile suspects being hunted by authorities and the Sedition Hunters

Sedition Hunters dubbed him 'CatSweat' because he was sporting a Caterpillar sweatshirt at the time of the attacks

In February, he mocked the 'amazing FBI doing some fine investigative work' and claimed 'everything you're being told about this is a lie,' HuffPo revealed.

He also posted right-wing COVID-19 conspiracy theories, rants about Black Lives Matter and a video boasting about being maskless in Walmart store.

Barnhart was arrested Tuesday and charged with federal offenses including assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon, aiding and abetting and other charges. 

He appeared in Western District of Michigan court Tuesday afternoon. It is unclear if he is being held in custody or has been bailed.  

Several other suspects were already arrested and charged in connection to the attack on the Capitol cop.

The Trump supporter had boasted online that he would make an appearance at the Capitol on January 6

They are: Jack Wade Whitton, Jeffrey Sabol, Peter Stager, Michael Lopatic and Clayton Mullins.

They are all named in a second superseding indictment unsealed Tuesday which announced the charges against Barnhart.     

On January 6, a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the electoral college votes being certified. 

The mob attacked law enforcement, sent lawmakers fleeing for their lives and looted from the building.

More than 570 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for their alleged part in the Capitol riot.