Capitol riot probe IDs 400 suspects
Prosecutor says numbers ‘growing by the hour’
The far-reaching investigation into the deadly Capitol siege Jan. 6 continues to grow: More than 400 suspects have been identified by federal authorities who expect to bring sedition charges against some of those linked to the insurrection.
“We are working on those (sedition) cases,” said Michael Sherwin, the chief federal prosecutor overseeing the inquiry, and officials expect the investigations to “bear fruit very soon.”
The charges, which could carry a maximum punishment of 20 years, would be among the most serious for those in the armed attack to disrupt Congress’ counting of President Joe Biden’s state-certified electoral victory.
Nearly three weeks after the assault, which left five dead, at least 138 people have been arrested, and Sherwin said the numbers are “growing by the hour.”
“These cases are moving at a very rapid clip,” the prosecutor said, referring to a flurry of 500 subpoenas and search warrants issued. “There is no manpower issue here . ... Everyone is all-in on these cases.”
The criminal inquiry has been playing out across the country, while the Senate prepares to hold the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, accused of inciting the rioters to storm the Capitol complex. The Senate trial is likely to open Feb. 9.
The public has flooded authorities with more than 200,000 pieces of digital media to review. Assistant FBI Director Steven D’Antuono said investigators continued to appeal for help in the search for the suspect or suspects who planted pipe bombs at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees.
Federal officials offered a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, which D’Antuono described as “a top priority.”
He said the components of the devices made them “viable” threats until they were discovered and disarmed by authorities.
On Tuesday, Yogananda Pittman, acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, apologized to lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees the agency’s funding, for her agency’s failures during what she described as a “terrorist attack.”
Pittman, who took command after the resignation of Chief Steven Sund in the wake of the attack, said the agency was aware that armed groups and white supremacists would be at the scheduled demonstration and that there was “a strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target.”
“The agency prepared ... (but) we did not do enough,” she told lawmakers Tuesday.
A number of officers were injured in the attack, and Sherwin said charges against those involved in the assaults are expected to increase “geometrically.” He said officer body camera video is pouring in to assist those cases.