Tag: Trump insurrectionists stormed the capitol

Momentum of Capitol riot inquiries stalls amid partisan flare-ups

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Momentum is stalling amid congressional efforts to swiftly investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, threatened by logistical delays and deepening partisan disagreement about the scope of an independent inquiry advocated by Democrats.

After initial House and Senate hearings that scrutinized law enforcement and intelligence failures leading up to the insurrection, the pace of such public sessions has slowed to a halt, as lawmakers struggle to determine their next investigative steps. Meanwhile, a fight between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her Republican counterparts over the scope of a Sept. 11-style commission has intensified this week after she announced her plan for how it should be structured.

Now, a looming congressional recess is expected to delay resolution on both fronts until mid-April at the soonest — a pause that threatens to undermine the momentum and spirit of cooperation Democrats and Republicans had exhibited immediately after the riot. Continue reading.

‘No remorse’: Man accused in Capitol officer beating, who allegedly buried badge in backyard, ordered to jail

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A New York man charged in a vicious assault on a D.C. police officer during the deadly Capitol riot was ordered jailed pending trial, when an angry federal judge Tuesday declared the suspect’s alleged behavior as “just not acceptable.”

Thomas Sibick is accused of ripping the radio and badge from the tactical vest worn by Officer Michael Fanone, who was later pulled into a mob where he was battered and shocked with a stun gun by rioters who attempted to take his service weapon.

After allegedly lying to the FBI multiple times about his involvement in the attack, Sibick last month surrendered Fanone’s mud-smeared badge, which the suspect had allegedly buried in the backyard of his Buffalo home. Continue reading.

Army initially pushed to deny District’s request for National Guard before Jan. 6

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The Army initially pushed to reject the D.C. government’s request for a modest National Guard presence ahead of the Jan. 6 rally that led to the Capitol riot, underscoring the deep reluctance of some higher-ups at the Pentagon to involve the military in security arrangements that day.

In an internal draft memo obtained by The Washington Post, the Army said the U.S. military shouldn’t be needed to help police with traffic and crowd management, as city officials had requested, unless more than 100,000 demonstrators were expected.

The draft memo also said the request should be denied because a federal agency hadn’t been identified to run the preparations and on-the-day operations; the resources of other federal agencies hadn’t been exhausted; and law enforcement was “far better suited” for the task. Continue reading.

MAGA rioter arrested for assaulting Capitol cops refers to himself as the ‘Sandwich Nazi’

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George Pierre Tanios, a 39-year-old MAGA rioter who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly assaulting late Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, refers to himslf as the “Sandwich Nazi” in his LinkedIn profile.

West Virginia Metro News reports that Tanios is the owner of the Sandwich University diner in Morgantown, West Virginia, which describes itself as the “King of the Fat Sandwich” on its website.

In his LinkedIn profile, Tanios lists being a “Sandwich Nazi” as his work experience, although it’s not clear if this is a commentary on his own far-right political views that inspired him to storm the United States Capitol on January 6th in the name of keeping former President Donald Trump in power. Continue reading.

Two arrested in assault on police officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died after Jan. 6 Capitol riot

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Federal authorities have arrested and charged two men with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick with an unknown chemical spray during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot but have not determined whether the exposure caused his death.

Julian Elie Khater, 32, of Pennsylvania and George Pierre Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, W.Va., were taken into custody Sunday. Authorities said they grew up together in New Jersey.

“Give me that bear sh–,” Khater said to Tanios on video recorded at 2:14 p.m. at the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, where Sicknick and other officers were standing guard behind metal bicycle racks, arrest papers say. Continue reading.

‘Um, so you already have the picture’: Capitol rioter facing 20 years tried to talk his way out of arrest

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According to a report from the Daytona Beach Journal, a 60-year-old man from Edgewater, Florida was taken into custody for his part in the storming of the Capitol on Jan 6th., by law enforcement officials acting on a federal warrant issued by U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Howard Berton Adams Jr. is facing up to 20 years in prison on charges of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; obstruction of justice/Congress; knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and parading or demonstrating in Capitol building, the report states.

Court documents state that Adams stood out in the crowd while “screaming and brandishing a flagpole with a U.S. flag emblazoned with a coiled snake.” Continue reading.

Capitol attacker claims his threats were just ‘locker room talk’ and he was drugged: court documents

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The indictment for Capitol attacker Thomas Edward Caldwell revealed some information about the defense he intends to use in court.

NBC News’ Scott McFarlane has followed the indictments and trials of those who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Caldwell was arrested on Jan. 19 and indicted on the 27th, and he was later identified as an alleged Oath Keeper who worked with the FBI and had “top-secret clearance,” WUSA reported.

“The government has asserted all three are members of the Oath Keepers militia group,” said the report. “Ray Crowl and Jessica Marie Watkins are accused of being part of the Ohio State Regular Militia Chapter. During a search of Watkins’ Ohio home, federal investigators have said they found homemade weapons and instructions for making plastic explosives.” Continue reading.

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was in direct contact with rioters before and during Capitol breach, U.S. alleges

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U.S. prosecutors alleged Monday that Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was in direct contact before, during and immediately after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach with members since charged with plotting to prevent Congress from confirming the results of the 2020 presidential election.

In a late-night court filing, prosecutors alleged that Rhodes directed the right-wing anti-government group to rally during the riot to the southeast steps of the Capitol, after which several members forcibly entered the east side of the building.

Prosecutors said they had recovered a chat called “DC OP: Jan 6 21” on the encrypted Signal messaging app that “shows that individuals, including those alleged to have conspired with [others], were actively planning to use force and violence.” Continue reading.

Judge rules against U.S., grants bail to Oath Keeper charged in Capitol riot

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The U.S. Justice Department arrested another alleged associate of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia on charges he took part in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, 6, and a judge granted him bail on Monday, rejecting government requests to keep him detained.

According to court papers, Roberto Minuta, 36, who owns a tattoo shop in Newburgh, New York, “berated and taunted” U.S. Capitol Police while clad in military-style gear, then attacked the Capitol and disrupted Congress as it was certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Minuta later deleted a Facebook account to “conceal his involvement in these offenses,” the court papers said. Continue reading.

Report urges sweeping changes to Capitol security after Jan. 6 attack

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The U.S. Capitol Police were “understaffed, insufficiently equipped, and inadequately trained” to protect the complex from the mob attack of Jan. 6, according to security experts reviewing the rampage who are recommending nearly 900 new officers and a retractable perimeter fence.

The 13-page report, authored by a team led by Ret. Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, identifies a host of inherent flaws in the Capitol’s intelligence-gathering, communications structure and power hierarchy that hobbled efforts to repel rioters that day.

The analysts are recommending a long list of reforms to Capitol Hill security, from conspicuous infrastructure changes — like permanent but retractable fencing — to more obscure adjustments, like the adoption of a mounted unit to patrol the grounds on horses. Continue reading.