The Metro-North worker who called in sick to be part of the mob that stormed the US Capitol was officially fired by the MTA on Tuesday, transit officials said.
Will Pepe, 31, of Beacon had been suspended without pay since Jan. 8 after railroad colleagues identified him in photos circulated by the FBI in the riot’s aftermath.
Federal prosecutors have accused Pepe of being a member of the Proud Boys. He faces charges for illicitly entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6 and “[engaging] in a conspiracy to obstruct, influence, impede, and interfere with law enforcement officers.”
The FBI arrested Pepe on Jan. 12. He was released on $10,000 bond at a federal court hearing in White Plains.
Pepe’s MTA salary peaked at $73,000 after seven years of service, records show.
An MTA source said Pepe was fired for time fraud and for violating the agency’s attendance policies.
“We made it clear since the Jan. 6 attack on our nation’s Capitol building that the apparent participation by one of our employees was unacceptable and inconsistent with Metro-North’s values,” Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said in a statement.
Pepe, who had been suspended without pay since January 8, is seen leaving court in White Plains. James Messerschmidt“After affording Mr. Pepe the due process to which he was entitled under his collective bargaining agreement, we have terminated him today for conduct unbecoming a Metro-North employee.”
His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.
Additional reporting by Ben Feuerherd
