Prosecutors say Capitol rioters sought 'to capture and assassinate elected officials'
Federal prosecutors are now alleging that some of the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol during last week's deadly riot sought to harm elected officials.
The new detail came in a
court filing Thursday, in which federal prosecutors in Arizona pushed to keep Jacob Anthony Chansley, known as “QAnon Shaman,” in detention, arguing that he was a flight risk. Chansley — who was seen wearing fur and horns in the Capitol— was
charged last week with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Prosecutors wrote that “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 memorandum states that Chansley left a note for Vice President Pence at the Senate chamber dais that read “it’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.” When asked what the note meant, authorities say Chansley went on a “lengthy diatribe” describing Pence and other U.S. leaders “as infiltrators involved in various types of wrongdoing.”
Prosecutors also stated that Chansley has said he wants to return to D.C. for President-elect
Joe Biden’s inauguration, and has the ability to do so. They said he could quickly raise money for travel “as one of the leaders and mascots of QAnon.”
The memorandum comes as authorities build cases against the rioters who stormed the Capitol building. The Washington Post reported
last week that the FBI was investigating whether rioters sought to harm lawmakers or staff.
Federal officials on Friday sought to walk back claims that some of the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday intended to “capture and assassinate elected off…
thehill.com