A lawyer called the violent protesters “anarchists, not patriots”.
Prosecutors across the country condemned the invasion of the United States Capitol on Wednesday in Washington, DC, with some vowing to accuse anyone in their state who may have violated federal laws.
So far, at least 12 have publicly declared that they would accuse those involved if they came from their jurisdictions.
Former US Attorney Zachary Terwilliger, appointed by President Donald Trump to soon leave his leadership position in the Eastern District of Virginia, called what happened at Capitol “a tragedy.”
“I was traveling through the district saying goodbye to the EDVA team, hence my delay, as I just told you,” he tweeted. “We contacted our DOJ and DC USAO colleagues to offer any support in terms of search and arrest warrants. This is negligible, a sham and the darkest day since 9/11.”
David DeVillers, the US attorney for the Southern Ohio District, openly tweeted that federal crimes were committed on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
“Make no mistake … Federal crimes were committed today in our nation’s Capital building. Anyone who traveled from the Southern District of Ohio with the intention of committing such crimes will be prosecuted in the Southern District of Ohio,” he said.
The FBI in a statement said they are helping their law enforcement partners, but so far there has been no statement from FBI Director Christopher Wray himself.
In June, Wray commented on the civil unrest following George Floyd’s death.
“In recent days, the violence, the threat to life and the destruction of property that we have seen in some parts of the country endanger the rights and security of all citizens, including peaceful protesters. This has to stop. We are seeing people who are exploiting this situation to pursue violent and extremist agendas – anarchists like Antifa and other agitators, “he said at the time.
“These individuals set out to sow discord and revolt, instead of uniting in the just search for equality and justice. And by separating us, they are undermining the urgent work and constructive engagement of all those who are trying to unite us – our community and religious leaders, our elected officials, law enforcement officers and citizens. Many suffered from the violence instigated by these radicals and extremists, including members of our own family of law enforcement officers – police officers killed or seriously injured while just doing their jobs, doing its duty to the public, trying to keep everyone safe, “added Wray.
Interim Attorney General Jeff Rosen, hours after the late attorney general William Barr released his own statement on Wednesday condemning violence on Capitol Hill, condemned what he described as an “intolerable attack on a fundamental institution of our democracy “.
Earlier, when asked about Wednesday’s events, the US attorney’s office in DC – which would normally have jurisdiction to prosecute those who violated federal laws throughout the day and who aggressively prosecuted protesters involved in the riots over the summer – a spokesman declined to comment to ABC News.
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Ken Cuccinelli, said what he saw on Capitol Hill marked a “sad day for America” and condemned the actions of those involved.
Erin Nealy Cox, the US attorney for the North Texas District, who is co-chair of the Department of Justice Task Force on Violent Extremists against the Government, called those who committed the attack on the Capitol “anarchists, not patriots”.