The FBI is reportedly investigating whether any rioters who entered the Capitol this week sought to go beyond disrupting Congress’s certification of the Electoral College results and intended to harm lawmakers or their staffs.
The Washington Post first reported the inquiry, citing people familiar with the investigation. Multiple people at the Capitol on Wednesday were photographed holding zip ties, the plastic version of handcuffs, while one arrested man allegedly carried a pistol while on the grounds of the Capitol.
The Post noted that evidence has not emerged that the people spotted with the plastic restraints sought to take hostages, but the newspaper reported that officials are looking through evidence to see if any of those individuals had plans to kill or capture officials in the federal building.
“We’re not looking at this as a grand conspiracy, but we are interested in learning what people would do with things like zip ties,” an unnamed law enforcement official told the Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.
Sources told the Post that one possible explanation could be that several of those who stormed the Capitol on Wednesday may be current or former law enforcement officers or military personnel.
……..
- Discussion
-
FBI investigating whether Capitol suspects sought to harm lawmakers: report https://t.co/UE7I0j63lT pic.twitter.com/t5rYXol7Gq
— The Hill (@thehill) January 9, 2021
Can't wait for more lectures about how you have to understand the frustrations of the unheard in order to put a literal lynch mob into proper "context." https://t.co/TIQPVYhmwX
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 9, 2021
Radicalized via the net, by television, and by Trump https://t.co/YBVKndJbmt
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 9, 2021
I trust @SecretService agents have been tasked to interview #LinWood in light of his clear enticing threats to assassinate @VP.
People have found agents at their door for far less credible & stupid outbursts. pic.twitter.com/4c2r3vo4DP
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) January 9, 2021
Impeachment or no, Trump's culpability needs to be fully exposed. We know a lot already. But did he know about the bombs? Was he briefed on threats? There's a difference between knowing there *could be* domestic terrorists in the crowd your inciting and *knowing* it outright.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 9, 2021
Trump told them to march to the Capitol to prevent Pence from certifying the election, Trump & Giuliani called Senators while attack underway telling them to delay certification, Trump bogus election fraud lawyer Lin Wood tweeted Pence needed to resign and be executed for treason https://t.co/ChMLj79sf9
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) January 9, 2021
How it Started / How it's Going pic.twitter.com/u4pzGMal7M
— voxsartoria (@voxsartoria) January 9, 2021
Don’t know how much probing is needed. Seems plain to me the intent of the mob was two-fold: to prevent formal certification of the EC results naming Joe Biden as the next president and to kill the “traitors” including Pence, who stood in the way of Trump’s coup.
What the FBI should look into is how much Trump knew about the storming of the Capitol beforehand. Was he an active participant in the planning of the siege? Was he told about it in advance and did he assure the Proud Boys and others that he would not stand in their way? He surely knew the siege or something would happen. His rhetoric inflaming the crowd in DC last week and his postings on social media encouraged his followers to rise up. He knew or should have known his words would lead to violence.
And that is why impeachment or a 25th Amendment proceeding are not enough. Trump should be charged with sedition and treason.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.