Capitol rioters meant to 'capture and assassinate' elected officials, federal prosecutors say
Rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 intended to "capture and assassinate elected officials," federal prosecutors said in court documents filed late Thursday.
The contention is the latest and most alarming claim from law enforcement addressing the threat posed by the mob that descended on Congress during the count of the state-certified Electoral College vote of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.
The recent court filing centers on Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as "Jake Angeli" and the "QAnon Shaman," who led part of the riot.
ARREST TRACKER:See who's been charged across the U.S. in the Capitol insurrection
"Strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government," the filing stated.
Chansley, who used a spear to fight Capitol Police during the attack, is expected in Phoenix federal court Friday for a detention hearing.
"Chansley is an active participant in — and has made himself the most prominent symbol of — a violent insurrection that attempted to overthrow the United States Government on January 6, 2021," the document reads.
Jacob Anthony Chansley, aka "Jake Angeli" aka the "QAnon Shaman," at the front of the Senate in the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6.
Chansley allegedly left a note on the Senate Chamber dais, where Vice President Mike Pence had been presiding, that warned: “It's only a matter of time, justice is coming.”
"When questioned as to the meaning of that statement, Chansley went on a lengthy diatribe describing current and past United States political leaders as infiltrators, specifically naming Vice President Mike Pence, former President Barack Obama, former Senator Hillary Clinton and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden as infiltrators involved in various types of wrongdoing. Although he stated his note was not a threat, the Government strongly disagrees," the filing reads.
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908655&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzYwNTU
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908672&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzYzNTA
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908686&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzY2ODI
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908710&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzY5MDY
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908733&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzcwNTg
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908749&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzcxODg
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908760&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3MzczMTY
https://thriveglobal.com/?p=1908771&preview=true&rk=MTE3MjQ0LjE2MTA3Mzc0OTU
Citing Chansley's interview NBC News, prosecutors noted he'd travelled to the Capitol "at the request of the President that all 'patriots' come to D.C."
Chansley was arrested by the Phoenix FBI after sitting down for an interview with prosecutors. Chansley was unaware at the time of the interview that there was a warrant for his arrest.
Prosecutors argue that Chansley must be detained due to his past criminal record and belief in harmful conspiracies like QAnon, as well as his belief that he is an alien, which may indicate "serious risks that he will flee and obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice."
Albert Watkins, Chansley's attorney, said during a CNN interview on Thursday night that Trump should pardon his client, calling it the "honorable thing for him to do."
The threat posed by Chansley is not eliminated by his detention, prosecutors argued, as other right-wing extremists who participated in the riot remain at large. Right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists continue to pose a threat across the country.
"Media and FBI reports have detailed carefully-planned insurrection attempts scheduled throughout the country in the coming weeks at every state capital," federal prosecutors said in their briefing, warning of further violence.