The US authorities have opened at least 25 domestic terrorism cases since the storming of the Capitol on January 6. Rep. Jason Crowe wrote about this on Twitter following a conversation with US Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy.
According to him, as a result of the riots in Washington, law enforcement agencies found long-barreled firearms, Molotov cocktails, explosive devices and plastic handcuffs. These findings suggest that “a greater disaster was averted,” the congressman said.
During the discussion, McCarthy said that the US Department of Defense is aware of the possible threats posed by potential terrorists ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. It is also known that active and reserve military personnel participated in the riots. Crowe expressed “deep concern” about this fact.
The head of the department noted that he was ready to speak to legislators in the coming days and provide them with information about what happened.
On January 9, US federal prosecutors arrested three participants in the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, including Jacob Anthony Chensley, also known as Jake Angeli, who participated in the protests in a Viking costume. He is accused of deliberately entering or staying in a building with limited access without legal authority, as well as forcible entry and disturbance of public order on the territory of the Capitol. On similar charges, 35-year-old West Virginia MP Derrick Evans and the so-called 36-year-old “Lectern Guy” Adam Johnson of Florida, who was captured walking around the Capitol with the pulpit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were arrested on a similar charge.
The storming of the US Capitol building took place on January 6 during a rally of supporters of the incumbent head of state, Donald Trump, who do not recognize the results of the November vote, which resulted in the election of Democrat Biden as president. The rallies led to clashes with the police. Five people died, dozens were detained.