Two men who reportedly were seen carrying plastic zip tie handcuffs during the deadly US Capitol riot – suggesting plans to kidnap lawmakers in an attempt to topple Donald Trump’s electoral defeat – were arrested on Sunday.
The United States Department of Justice announced the charges against Larry Rendell Brock of Texas and Eric Gavelek Munchel of Tennessee and said the cases were being processed by the District of Columbia attorney and the DoJ counterterrorism section.
“It is alleged that Brock was identified as one of the individuals who illegally entered the United States Capitol,” said a DoJ statement, adding that he was “wearing a green helmet, green tactical vest with patches, black and camouflage and beige jacket. pants with white flexible cuffs, which are used by the authorities to restrict and / or detain subjects ”.
Munchel was reportedly photographed “carrying plastic straps, an item in a holster on his right hip and a cell phone mounted on his chest with the camera facing outwards”.
The DoJ also said that the FBI is still “looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind”.
The news came as more graphic details of violence and brutality in the riot emerged and several suspects were in custody.
Donald Trump seems certain to be accused of impeachment because of the riot, which he prompted in comments to supporters outside the White House on Wednesday.
South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn, the majority leader in the House, told Fox News on Sunday: “If we are the House of the People, we will do the people’s work and vote for the impeachment of this President.”
Alarming images of the uproar showed a bloody policeman crushed at a door and shouting. Other policemen were beaten with pipes; one was seen falling over a fence into a crowd below, after being hit from behind.
Brian Sicknick, 42 and a 12-year-old veteran officer, died after he was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher while “physically enveloping” protesters, Capitol police said.
On Sunday, it was reported that another Capitol officer had died, although the death was not immediately related to the riot. Speaking to CBS Face the Nation, Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt said: “Officer Sicknick, now official [Howard] Liebengood, their lives ended this week.
“I will be interested in finding out if there was a connection with Officer Liebengood. But mainly, I am interested in reaching out to these two families.
“These are people we see every day, especially Liebengood, who was assigned to the Senate side of the building. And, you know, you have that loss.
“You have another four deaths of people who got involved in something they absolutely shouldn’t have been involved in.”
A pro-Trump rioter was shot and killed by police. The other deaths involved medical emergencies.
The attack forced lawmakers to hide for hours, delaying their vote to claim Joe Biden’s election victory. The police arrested a man who allegedly brought weapons and explosives to Washington; another was heavily armed and reportedly threatened to kill mayor Nancy Pelosi. Chants of “Hang Mike Pence,” the vice president, were heard during the riot.
In photos and videos, many participants identified themselves by shouting their names or posting selfies on social profiles – some while openly mocking the prospect of a lawsuit and many did not wear masks against the Covid-19 threat, thus helping their identification.
According to the Miami Herald, Adam Johnson of Parrish, Florida, posted on social media that he was in Washington. These posts were deleted, but users identified the father of five 36-year-old children as a man who smiled while stealing Pelosi’s pulpit. He was arrested on Friday by a federal warrant.
Another man, seen wearing face paint and a horned fur hat in the Senate chamber, was accused of charges that included violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Jacob Anthony Chansley of Arizona, a self-styled “shaman QAnon” better known as Jake Angeli, remained in custody in Arizona pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutors said other cases remain under wraps and dozens of people have been contacted by federal agents. The US prosecutor in Washington promised that “all options were on the table” for the charges, including possible sedition.
Doug Jensen, a 41-year-old Iowa man, was arrested Saturday morning on federal charges, including trespassing and disorderly conduct. The video posted online showed a man who appeared to be Jensen chasing a black officer down an internal flight of stairs while a crowd followed him. At several points, the policeman said “come back”, to no avail.
Richard Barnett, an Arkansas man shown in a widely seen photo sitting in Pelosi’s office with his boots on his desk, was arrested on Friday. Barnett, 60, turned himself in and was arrested on Fayetteville, without bail, while he went to court.
Derrick Evans, a West Virginia state legislator who posted videos showing himself making his way into the Capitol, was arrested on Friday by the FBI and accused of entering restricted federal property.
Evans submitted a letter of resignation to West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and apologized. He broadcast himself running to the building with Trump supporters and was seen beating his fists on a policeman and shouting, “Our home!”
The crowd was furious at Trump’s electoral defeat, which the president continues to infoundly claim was the result of fraud. Several Republicans and cabinet officials criticized Trump. Two senators asked for his resignation.
Former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told Fox News on Sunday that he was “shocked”, “angry” and “embarrassed”.
“I’m feeling a lot of emotions this week,” said Mulvaney, who resigned as Trump’s envoy to Northern Ireland. “And I’m still trying to figure out what I could have done differently. I’ve been out of the White House for eight months. “
Fox News presenter Chris Wallace suggested that the former congressman, like others in his party, “did not have the courage” to face Trump.