Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, released her 15th HBO documentary titled “The Insurrectionist Next Door.”
The documentary premiered on HBO on Sunday, October 15 and focuses on the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, including Billy Knutson of Mitchell, South Dakota.
Alexandra Pelosi conducts candid interviews with several of these individuals, who have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot.
The story follows the life of Knutson, a man with a tumultuous past involving multiple encounters with the prison system due to his involvement in a street lifestyle of drinking and violence.
After staying out of trouble for nearly a decade, he participated in the January 6, 2021, protest in Washington, D.C., believing that the 2020 presidential elections were stolen from Donald Trump.
While he did not engage in violence during the Capitol riot, he entered the Capitol and documented the events.
Despite initially avoiding criminal charges, Billy’s life took a turn when he used the footage he recorded in his music videos as Playboy the Beast, a rapper known for his political beliefs.
He faced federal charges and was eventually arrested in January 2022 on multiple counts related to the Capitol riot.
In April 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count, leading to a six-month prison sentence, one year of supervised release, and a $500 restitution.
As of March 31, 2023, Billy has been released from federal custody and is back with his family.
He continues to focus on his music, his affiliation with the Proud Boys, and his work at Street Soldiers Entertainment.
Billy defends the Proud Boys, considering them a brotherhood that promotes “brotherly love” rather than hate speech, although their far-right, neo-fascist reputation is controversial.