An FBI witness said that members of the far right Proud Boys were hoping to assassinate Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the violent attack on the United States Capitol last week.
A special FBI agent made the allegation in a sworn statement as part of a criminal complaint against Dominic Pezzola, 43, accused of participating in the riot in support of President Donald Trump’s false claims that the presidential election was “stolen.” Pezzola, who is also known as “Spaz”, allegedly used a shield taken from a Capitol Police officer to break a Capitol window before entering the building. An FBI witness said that the group with whom Pezzola had discussed the practice of violent acts that went far beyond material damage.
“[The witness] claimed that other members of the group talked about things they did during the day, and they said that anyone they got their hands on would have killed, including Nancy Pelosi, “the deposition, which was filed on Wednesday, says.”[The witness] further stated that members of this group, which included ‘Spaz,’ said they would have killed [Vice President] Mike Pence if you get the chance. “
“The group said it would return on the 20th, which its affiant understands as the presidential inauguration scheduled for January 20, 2021,” he continues. “And that they plan to kill every ‘m-fer’ they can. [The witness] claimed that the men said that everyone had firearms or access to firearms. “
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Pezzola, from Rochester, New York, was arrested on Friday and charged with obstructing an official lawsuit, destruction of government property and illegal entry into a restricted building or land, with the possibility of additional charges. He faces 20 years in prison if convicted.
The court documents refer to a video by Pezzola and associates after the building was invaded. Pezzola is pictured with a cigar celebrating a “Capitol victory smoke”, while describing the violation as “fucking incredible”. The documents also note that Pezzola describes himself as a “Navy veterinarian / boxer / patriot / Proud Boy 2nd °” in a profile on the Telegram messaging app.
Several members of the Proud Boys were identified as part of the violent crowd that participated in the Capitol rebellion, which resulted in the deaths of at least five people. The pro-Trump group gained particular notoriety last September, when Trump asked them to “stand back and wait” while refusing to directly repudiate white supremacist groups and militia during a presidential debate.
Additional security measures, including a large deployment of National Guard troops, are being taken in preparation for the potential violence surrounding President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. Trump was impeached on Wednesday for allegedly inciting the Capitol rebellion. The president who is stepping down has also been banned from major social media platforms for fear that his rhetoric could inspire more violence.
Newsweek contacted Pence and Pelosi’s offices for comment.