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Tech CEO Apologizes After His Arrest Over Capitol Hill Protests (variety.com) 306

Posted by EditorDavid from the after-the-storming dept.
"Turning digital data into profit," is the slogan of Cognesia, a data analytics company whose client list includes Visa, Rolls-Royce, and Toys 'R' Us.

Now Variety reports: Brad Rukstales, the chief executive of a Chicago-area company that provides data-marketing solutions, said he was arrested Wednesday after he entered the U.S. Capitol alongside a mob of pro-Trump rioters seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election...

"Our CEO, Brad Rukstales, participated in the recent Washington DC protests," Schaumburg, Illinois-based Cognesia said in a statement Thursday. "Those actions were his own and [and he was] not acting on behalf [of] Cogensia nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm..."

Rukstales, in his own statement posted on Twitter, apologized for what he called "the single worst personal decision of my life."

"In a moment of extremely poor judgment following the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors to the Capitol building to see what was taking place inside," Rukstales wrote. "I was arrested for the first time in my life and charged with unlawful entry." He continued, "My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so," adding that he "condemn[ed] the violence and destruction that took place in Washington."
Twitter now reports that Cognesia's account "no longer exists." (This after their tweeted statement received dozens of unrelentingly negative comments.) Their LinkedIn profile includes a link to a more recent announcement that CEO Rukstales "has been terminated by the company's Board of Directors effective immediately," with their new CEO saying Rukstales' actions "were inconsistent with the core values of Cogensia. Cogensia condemns what occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, and we intend to continue to embrace the values of integrity, diversity and transparency in our business operations, and expect all employees to embrace those values as well."

Thursday CEO Rukstales shared his memory of Wednesday's events with a local news crew. "It was great to see a whole bunch of people together in the morning and hear the speeches, but it turned into chaos... I had nothing to do with charging anybody or anything or doing any of that. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I regret my part in that."

And Rukstales' written apology is still online.

"Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place in Washington," Rukstales wrote. "I offer my sincere apologies for my indiscretion, and I deeply regret that my actions have brought embarrassment to my family, colleagues, friends and fellow countrymen..."

"I have no excuse for my actions and I wish I could take them back."
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Tech CEO Apologizes After His Arrest Over Capitol Hill Protests More

Tech CEO Apologizes After His Arrest Over Capitol Hill Protests

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  • To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

    by thegarbz ( 1787294 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @02:36PM (#60921476)

    Tech CEO can't afford a TV? I'm on the other side of the world and I could see what was taking place inside. Why do I get the feeling he's lying.

    • Re:To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:00PM (#60921586)

      Why do I get the feeling he's lying.

      Because he is. This was not "a moment of extremely poor judgment ". This was someone who deliberately traveled from Chicago to Washington DC and deliberately took part in a riot.

      • Re:To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Amouth ( 879122 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @04:03PM (#60921894)

        And he doesn't regret doing it - he regrets getting caught. Every person there knew exactly what they where doing.

      • Re:To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Scutter ( 18425 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @06:04PM (#60922434) Journal

        The word you're looking for is "insurrection". They brought guns, bombs, and a gallows.

        • Some of them. Others were rubes.

          I wonder if the insurrectionists were even formally organized. Or if it was a coincidence of multiple lone wolves. It's almost laughable how stupid it was. But even concentrated stupidity ended up killing people.

      • Re:To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

        by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @11:32PM (#60923582) Homepage Journal

        This was someone who deliberately traveled from Chicago to Washington DC and deliberately took part in a riot.

        Of the few people I know that were there. Their idea of how it would work out was very different from what actually happened. One person I know is quite haunted by the experience, being one of the first times they ever took part in any kind of political rally or protest. I feel sorry for them that it turned out so badly. But millions of us also warned them for a decade about some of this far-right extremism and the kinds of people it attracts, and the kinds of lies people are fed watching FOX and the various radio talk shows. It's a case of "I told you so".

        It was a mixed bag of people. A lot of people who were not violent make a spontaneous decision to step inside a federal building. I don't know how else to say this but if you're in a crushing mob, get out. Don't keep going forward and literally trample people to death. When the dust settles, if you're an otherwise good and decent person, you're going to regret participating for the rest of your life.

        Some of the people there were sick violent extremists. They were there hoping to bring down the current government and replace it with a new one. They're the type that believes in cabals of elites in a new world order, and have weird power fantasies of being greater than they are. They're people who are losers in real life, and blame imaginary enemies for bringing them down. And the most extreme of them are ready to throw away their life on a mistaken belief they can amount to something by joining a new revolution. Even in a successful coup, they don't rise to the top but remain sad pathetic losers that fade away in history. There's no quick fix to turn your life around, but that's what these nutters are looking for.

        Prison for some. Probation and fines for others. And ideally some soul searching for everyone. Because Christ on a cracker, nobody even brought a list of demands or had any organizers to direct people to have sit-ins or disruptive chants. Did they think they cleared the level as soon as they touched some magic checkpoint inside the Capitol? Do a little end-goal football dance while saving America? It's so goddamn childish that it's hard to not shake these people.

    • Re:To see what was taking place inside (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:32PM (#60921740)

      It's not just him lying, the business is lying:

      "Those actions were his own and [and he was] not acting on behalf [of] Cogensia nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm..."

      This wasn't the fucking cleaner or the receptionist, this was your CEO, the very person who defines and determines the policies, culture, and values of a company, so yes, it 100% reflects the policies and values of your firm, and yes, it reflects poor judgement in hiring him.

      But this is what happens when most CEO hiring happens from dipping into old boys clubs, rather than through progression of people who are actually competent and level headed enough to run an organisation without opening it up to significant reputational damage like this.

      He isn't the first CEO who does something stupid like this, or gets caught doing blow and hookers in an SS uniform or whatever other stupid thing they do, and crushes the reputation of the company, and he won't be the last, as long as companies hire buddies over talent. When it's your CEO, the only way you disown it is by getting rid of him and replace him with immediate effect- no notice period, no golden parachute, just breach of contract and off you fuck sir.

  • Sure (Score:5, Insightful)

    by OneHundredAndTen ( 1523865 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @02:37PM (#60921478)
    He is very sorry that he got caught. What a moron.

    • Re:Sure (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Fish (David Trout) ( 923462 ) <fish@infidels.org> on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:02PM (#60921592) Homepage

      He is very sorry that he got caught. What a moron.

      Exactly. He entered the capital the same way all of his fellow criminals did: forcibly, violently, and without permission, and deserves, just like all of his fellow criminals, to have the book thrown at him.

      Whining and saying "I'm sorry!" after the fact doesn't change that what you did was wrong (criminal) and deserves severe punishment.

      No mercy for you, asshole, nor any for any of your other fellow insurrectionists either.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by Arethan ( 223197 )

        What's the right punishment though?

        Right now, the punishment for treason is still death. Really not kidding. Go look

        https://www.federalcharges.com... [federalcharges.com]

        • Re: Sure (Score:5, Informative)

          by Nidi62 ( 1525137 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:14PM (#60921652)

          According their Dear Leader's executive order, at least 10 years in federal PMITA prison.

          Or does that only apply to BLM?

        • Nope. It can be death, but that is not and has never been mandatory.

        • Treason and insurrection are not the same thing though.

        • Re:Sure (Score:5, Informative)

          by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @04:25PM (#60921996)

          What's the right punishment though?

          Right now, the punishment for treason is still death.

          Treason doesn't really apply as we're not at war and they weren't assisting the enemy -- or not any we actually know of at this point. I mean, Alex Jones funded the rally and is more of a dick than anything else.

          More appropriate charges would be for Sedition / Insurrection -- for *all* the people that entered the Capital Building.

          Personally, I'd also lump in a few members of Congress, like Senators Josh Hawley (R) Missouri and Ted Cruz (R) Texas and (at least) House Member Mo Brooks (R) Alabama for their bullshit stunt to object to the Electoral College votes knowing their arguments were false -- even after the riot -- but that's just me.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by dargaud ( 518470 )
        I think the 'without permission' part is still unclear. There are many videos where the cops just open up the barriers and let the invaders in, even waving them in...

        • I think the 'without permission' part is still unclear. There are many videos where the cops just open up the barriers and let the invaders in, even waving them in...

          Of course, the other option was to to fight against and perhaps even fire upon the *much* larger invading force of (mostly) unarmed civilians w/o knowing if/when any backup would arrive. Standing down / retreat may have been a choice to deescalate the situation, prevent further injuries and/or keep things from getting worse.

          In any event, the rioters definitely entered without permission -- especially those breaking through windows, etc ... -- as the building was official closed to visitors at the time.

      • Re:Sure (Score:4, Interesting)

        by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @04:00PM (#60921880)

        It's a bit iffy about motivations here. There wsa a core group that was intent on causing problems, but many were just believers in the stolen vote conspiracy/myth and they were showing up to support Trump. Not everyone is following what happens in the corners of the social media when they discuss their future actions, but a lot are listening to Trump saying "come and support me".

        In addition, a the capitol some doors were forced open while police tried to stop them, some groups were giving a coordinated effort to force open doors with the weight of their crowd versus the weight of the police (which caused injuries, and possibly the officer who was killed was in the group trying to stop this. On the other side of the building, with very few cops, they just opened the doors and the crowd walked in, and one of the crowd was overheard saying "is this a trap?" I think the group filing in and staying within the velvet ropes were in that group, they wanted a look around, some probably didn't even understand that they were trespassing at first.

        The people shouting "this is our house and you work for us!" were just morons. Sounds like when I was a TA and the failing students would bitch at me and claim that their parents were paying my salary so I should just give them a better grade. They do not seem to think this house also belongs to those who did not vote for Trump, or they assume that any citizen could just show up at any date and time and be allowed to go anywhere with no restrictions. Of course, I'd hate to see their own houses given this behavior, probably all the furniture is knocked over and excrement smeared on the floors.

        • some groups were giving a coordinated effort to force open doors with the weight of their crowd versus the weight of the police (which caused injuries, and possibly the officer who was killed was in the group trying to stop this

          Are you talking abut the police officer who suffered a fatal head injury from a fire extinguisher? Because if so, that wasn't just "weight of the crowd", that was a violent assault on a person.

    • Yep, we're gonna be awash in crocodile tears from here to inauguration day.

  • Resume (Score:5, Funny)

    by Nidi62 ( 1525137 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @02:41PM (#60921494)

    Guess he can go ahead and add Insurrectionist to his LinkedIn profile.

  • We are sorry your career is over (Score:3)

    by JoeyRox ( 2711699 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @02:48PM (#60921540)
    But hopefully with the passage of time we'll get over our sorrow and carry on with our non-incarcerated, career-possessing lives.

  • alongside a mob (Score:5, Insightful)

    by n9891q ( 863780 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:03PM (#60921596)
    The text says "alongside a mob", as if he were walking in the neighborhood and happened to look over their shoulders in mild curiosity. He was a participant, an insurrectionist, and should face the music. He walked over broken glass, through broken doors, and kept going. People must stop normalizing this kind of behavior.

  • From their site:

    Cognesia has the answer. We transform anonymous digital data into highly valuable customer insight which enables you to create the right message, to the right person, at the right time. We help you improve retention, maximise conversion and deliver a single view of activities.

    So these are the people that make it easier when companies spy on you. Frankly, I hope everyone working there gets exactly what they deserve.

  • We now get to watch 30% of America backpedal (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Arethan ( 223197 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:05PM (#60921604) Journal

    All the suckers that followed Trump's lies and deceitful rhetoric over the 'huge amount of fraud', which every sane person around them was continually telling them was complete bullshit, now get to jump through fun thought gymnastics as they try to explain away how they were physically present during what most Americans are calling a coup against their own government.

    They've now all found themselves cast amongst the ranks of other truth deniers, like the flat-earthers. It's not going to be a fun place to be, and it will only get worse and worse over time. I highly encourage them all to publicly apologize for their actions and vehemently denounce what they witnessed as well as the 'leaders' and sources of false information that led them into that dark place. The rest of America will indeed forgive them, but they're going to have to first admit the problem and convince the rest of us that they're willing and trying to improve themselves.

    As for the republican party itself... maybe it should reform under a new name - tear the band-aid off, so to speak. For now, history is being written that republican supporters denounced their own democratic republic and honestly tried to adopt populism instead. It's really not a good look.

    • Re: We now get to watch 30% of America backpedal (Score:4, Interesting)

      by BAReFO0t ( 6240524 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @04:08PM (#60921920)

      Well, good.

      People need a path out, that allows them to keep their self-respect. That is the only way you get them to change their mind. Because psychokogically ... As long as you keep calling somebody's opinions idiotic, or attack him, he's not gonna accept your suggestions, no matter what. A that point, it is actually you, who becomes the one who sustains the belief even if they wanted to get out.

      So always leave them a way out.
      And that is the real reasons why one should always treat evem the greatest moron with respect.
      Provided one actually wants to change his beliefs, and provided their trigger isn't stronger than any alternate good-feeling view you can offer.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Mitreya ( 579078 )

      I highly encourage them all to publicly apologize for their actions and vehemently denounce

      I don't think any of them would mean it.
      People who cheerfully filmed themselves or gave interviews, see nothing wrong with their actions. If they apologize, it would only be to shorten their sentence.
      Trump's "concession" speech is a great indication of the kind of "denouncement" you can expect.

    • All the suckers that followed Trump's lies and deceitful rhetoric over the 'huge amount of fraud'

      All the suckers that voted for and put Trump in office, were doing so because they were sick and tired of the lies and deceitful rhetoric. "Drain the Swamp", remember?

      Now we get to watch the other 70% of America put on their shocked face, as they slowly realize the return to normal was exactly why they voted for a political outsider last time.

      Maybe one of these days voters will learn not be so stupid and gullible voting for the status quo they dream of changing, but I doubt it.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Arethan ( 223197 )

        I actually do remember drain the swamp, and I agree that we need better representation. But, I believe we can achieve that via voting reform, rather than banking on one person as president to force change upon everyone else.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hondo77 ( 324058 )

      As for the republican party itself... maybe it should reform under a new name...

      Fork the Republican Party. Leave behind the crazies and start fresh. The line to draw in the sand: insurrection.

    • Arnold Schwartzenegger talks about growing up in Austria, and the emotional pain of his father, and his neighbors, and how many of them weren't the hard-core nasis, they were the people next door, the people who went along with it.

      He also breaks out the Conan sword.

      https://youtu.be/mz3zFsTp2Pk [youtu.be]

  • 4chan-tier stupidity (Score:5, Interesting)

    by couchslug ( 175151 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:15PM (#60921656)

    Every Slashdotter should remember the insurgents believed what they read and remember where they read it. The dead traitor wore a Q-Tard shirt.

    If you're stupid enough to fall for a 4chan larp then you're utterly worthless and beneath all respect or empathy. There is no excuse for being that obscenely, WILLFULLY gullible because all their credulity did was expose their inner vileness.

    Again, these "people" believed in /pol and /b
    While those boards make it easy to manipulate lesser creatures with power comes responsibility. Roughly twenty percent of Americans believe in astrology. We're not an intelligent country and leadership should LEAD the idiot plebs instead of feeding their natural viciousness.

    This has been understood since ancient Rome.

    • Re: 4chan-tier stupidity (Score:4, Informative)

      by Nidi62 ( 1525137 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:19PM (#60921672)

      Its moved beyond the chans. The crazy is the GOP now.

      https://nyegop.org/2021/01/08/... [nyegop.org]

      • Those people are going to be very disappointed on January 20. Unfortunately, the idiots will believe some new lie to explain why Trump wasn't inaugurated for a second term.

        For those who didn't click on the link, here is an extract of the craziness:
        "Let me be clear: Trump will be president for another four years. Biden will not be president. Yes, I know those are shocking words in these crazy days.

        I have been approached by many saying, âoeItâ(TM)s overâ¦â and âoeTrump conceded t

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Please don't insult 4chan.

      4chan is chaotic, anacrchic, unconventional, nonconformist, frank, harsh and quite selfish. But it is not necessarily stupid.

      E.g. it is definitively not a conservative place. Nobody gives fuck a about Jesus or "decenency and family values" in there.
      It is mainly an anarchic refuge.

      It is only that our so-called "conservative" neo-libertarian party(es) have an intersection with 4channers in that kind of selfish "freedom" and venting of anger like the Rowdy 3 from Dirk Gently.
      It is not

  • Financial penalties (Score:3)

    by algaeman ( 600564 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:28PM (#60921718)
    This d-bag, and his company, are going to receive the only penalty that matters in the USA. They are going to lose their customers, and their livelihoods. This is ultimately the solution to this problem. There must be campaign finance reform, with politicians that continue to lie and slander being cut off from that sweet, sweet gravy train.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Mitreya ( 579078 )

      This d-bag, and his company, are going to receive the only penalty that matters in the USA. They are going to lose their customers, and their livelihoods.

      Corporation actions seem to be limited to fines and financial penalties.
      This was individual actions, unrelated to the company. The company already disowned him, so he may face actual prison sentence.

    • This d-bag, and his company, are going to receive the only penalty that matters in the USA. They are going to lose their customers, and their livelihoods. This is ultimately the solution to this problem...

      Really? And what exactly do you wish to get out of this "solution" long-term? Is this punishment just for the CEO, or are we going to punish the shit out of every employee in that company that had nothing to do with the CEOs decision? I mean, you're not just looking to tell customers to go elsewhere, you want their "livelihoods" decimated. Sounds like company-crushing statements right there.

      And to what end? Should we ensure that this "d-bag" and every person he's ever been friends with, is put on some

  • Not Protests (Score:4, Insightful)

    by jimbrooking ( 1909170 ) on Sunday January 10, 2021 @03:30PM (#60921728)

    Insurrection!

    It failed this time.

  • I am glad to see the matter has been resolved.

    Let's do lunch

  • Erm, the evil moron was IN THE MOB.

  • Are you just hiring anyone without any checks if their life values fit in with yours, or what?
    Of course you checked! Thoroughly!

    Nobody is fooled by your damage control.

    Your damn slogan is something out of a Ferengi textbook!

  • This moron did not know the assigned role for the mob was to be cannon fodder.

    What Rudi, Donald and Hawley were looking for was a few dead bodies. They were hoping this rampaging mob will descend in lightly defended capitol and the police will fire and kill a few rioters. That will be give them enough political capital.

    But they failed to understand police reaction will be vastly different when confronted by a white mob. If it is one of the Antifa, BLM rioters, they would have been shot before the even got within 100 feet of the front steps. An the dead bodies would be enough to call for stop to vote counting etc etc.

    But the police did not shoot. One very brave black officer played bait and lured the mob in to a locked secure door at the end of a narrow corridor. Giving them much smaller opening, not more than five or six people could attack the glass window of the door. There were other unlocked and unsecured offices and chambers.

  • So, he followed others through an "open set of doors to the Capitol building"?
    Okay, so where is the video of whoever opened said set of doors?
    Staff member? Alleged security? Is someone being covered up/protected? What the [insert own expletive here]!
    Since when are doors there left open?
    Why hasn't our media published the video/pictures of this person or persons?
    Are they sacrificing the sheep and hiding the leaders of the mob?
  • Trump is planning to pardon all the rioters before he leaves office on 15th. He plans to resign on 16th and Pence will then pardon Trump. But to get the pardon the rioters have to confess in writing to FBI before 15th. The pardon will be specific to "all people who had committed offences on the January 6th capitol building and the Washington mall, who have confessed will be pardoned unconditionally"

    Please spread the message.

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