Antony Vo, a 32-year-old American man convicted for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riot, is seeking political asylum in Canada. Vo was sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to report on June 14th, 2024, but instead fled to Canada. His actions are part of a larger context: over 1,500 individuals have been charged in connection with the attack on the US Capitol, an event aimed at disrupting the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
Vo, from Indiana, was found guilty at trial of four counts related to entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct. He justifies his actions by claiming the riot was a “peaceful protest” subverted as part of a “domestic regime-change operation” targeting Donald Trump and his supporters. This narrative aligns with Trump’s own characterization of the rioters as “patriots” and “political prisoners,” a stance that has fueled Vo’s hope for a presidential pardon upon Trump’s potential return to office. Vo explicitly stated to AFP that he believes Canada’s history of welcoming refugees, citing examples from the Vietnam War and the Edward Snowden case, influenced his decision to flee to Canada.
Vo’s asylum claim paints a picture sharply contrasting with the reality of the event. The January 6th attack involved hours of violent clashes with law enforcement, resulting in over 140 police officers injured. Rioters utilized weapons including flagpoles, baseball bats, and makeshift weapons, alongside Tasers and bear spray. Despite this, Vo claims he witnessed no violence. This claim is directly contradicted by social media images depicting Vo and his mother, Annie (who also faces trial after being arrested in March), smiling inside the Capitol building. Annie Vo fled Vietnam in 1991 and was granted asylum in the United States.
Vo intends to remain in Canada until he perceives the situation in the US to be “safe” for his return, contingent on a potential pardon from a future Trump administration. He has reportedly also attempted to seek asylum in Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Vietnam, Belarus, and Russia, even exploring the possibility of paramotoring from Key West to Cuba. He concludes by stating that he has received kind treatment from Canadians since arriving. The irony is not lost that Vo, while claiming refuge from political persecution, is himself a convicted participant in an attempt to overturn a democratic election result.