Ameriprise Financial Advisor Resigns Amid Capitol Riot Charges

An Ameriprise financial advisor, Lee Giobbie, is no longer employed at the financial-services company as he faces criminal charges for his alleged participation in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. While Ameriprise intended to terminate Giobbie's employment, he resigned while on suspension.

The decision to end Giobbie's affiliation with Ameriprise was made due to his federal indictment and violations of the firm's code of conduct. Although Giobbie was a Certified Financial Planner and an Ameriprise franchise owner, not an employee, the company had suspended him upon being informed of his indictment and launched an internal investigation.

According to the online database BrokerCheck, Giobbie's relationship with Ameriprise officially ended on February 14. Attempts to reach Giobbie for comment have been unsuccessful, as his Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts have been taken down.

Giobbie is currently represented by attorney Bill Shipley in the criminal case. Shipley disclosed that Giobbie is seeking separate counsel regarding his departure from Ameriprise but refrained from commenting on the charges associated with the January 6 riot, during which a group of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of the 2020 election.

Department of Justice Announces Arrest in Connection with Capitol Riot

The Justice Department made a significant announcement earlier this year regarding the arrest of an individual named Giobbie. This arrest was made on multiple charges, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as several misdemeanor charges.

According to the FBI, the identification of Giobbie was made possible with the assistance of online sleuths who thoroughly examined publicly available photos and images from the Capitol riot. Notably, a photograph taken outside the Capitol on January 6th captured a man holding a bullhorn while wearing a retro-style Philadelphia Eagles hat. The FBI found a matching hat in a photo from Giobbie's Facebook profile. Furthermore, subsequent videos from the Capitol riot were provided to the FBI, and an agent who evaluated them confirmed the presence of Giobbie in each recording.

As stated in the bureau's court filing, Giobbie used his cellphone to broadcast former President Trump's speech on January 6th through the bullhorn before joining the mob that forcefully pushed past police lines and stormed the Capitol building.

According to the FBI, Giobbie was among the first rioters to enter the building through the Rotunda doors. After encountering a brief detainment by a police officer in a hallway, Giobbie managed to make his way to the northwest side of the building, ultimately exiting into a courtyard.

It's worth mentioning that the Justice Department has taken legal action against more than 1,200 individuals who are believed to have participated in the events of the January 6th riot at the Capitol.