Rioters planned to ‘assassinate’ officials
Rioters who invaded the US Capitol last week were planning to “capture and assassinate” elected officials, according to federal prosecutors seeking to keep an Arizona man in custody. Government officials want to detain Jacob Chansley, the insurrectionist who was photographed wearing an animal headdress and standing at the dais that Vice President Mike Pence deserted when the rioters laid siege to the building. A court filing on Thursday revealed chilling new details of the role Chansley allegedly played, describing a letter he left for Pence saying, “It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.” “Strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials...,” prosecutors said.
WASHINGTON: US security agencies have arrested more than 100 individuals for the January 6 siege of the Capitol and are monitoring “an extensive amount of concerning online chatter” ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, FBI director Christopher Wray said.
Prosecutors now believe the rioters planned to “capture and assassinate elected officials”, according to a new court filing which sought the detention of Jacob Chansley of Arizona, the Qanon conspiracy theorist pictured in the riot dressed as a horned shaman at the desk of vice-president Mike Pence.
“Strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States government,” prosecutors said.
Jacob Fracker, an off duty police officer charged in connection with riots, is a member of the Virginia National Guard, an official said, becoming the first known person in the military to be arrested over the riot.
‘Trump to live in Florida’
Donald Trump plans to fly to his Mar-a-lago resort in Florida the morning of Biden’s inauguration on January 20, where several current White House staff are expected to work for him or his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, after his presidency, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
Trump intends to live at the Palm Beach resort, the people said, though some of his future neighbours are trying to stop him from taking up permanent residence.
In Washington, DC, the state department extended an invitation to Biden and his wife, Jill, to stay at Blair House, a historic home near the White House, the night before the inauguration, according to people familiar with the matter. The Bidens have accepted, people familiar with the matter say, continuing a tradition for presidents-elect.
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