By Aaron Miller-
Capitol Rioters planned to ‘Capture And Assassinate’ Officials. Federal prosecutors have said..
Five people died, including one police officer, as a result of the deadly siege on the Washington DC building on January 6.
A detention memo written by Justice Department lawyers in Arizona revealed that Chansley left a note for Vice President Mike Pence which read: ‘It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.’
The prosecutors wrote: ‘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.’
Prosecutors also made reference to previous online posts containing worrying threats, with one reading: ‘I’m thinking it will be literal war on that day. Where we’ll storm offices and physically remove and even kill all the D.C. traitors and reclaim the country.’ The phrase ‘Storm the Capitol’ was also used 100,000 times on social media in the preceding month.
Chansley, 33, left a note for U.S vice president, Mike Pence, at the dais in the Senate Chamber where the second-in-command had been standing just minutes before, which read: “it’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.”
The filing gives further insight into the FBI probe on the day of chaos at the center of American democracy, which left elected officials holed up fearing for their lives and at least five people dead, including one police officer. It comes as authorities lay charges against individuals involved in the riot, including a man who flew the confederate flag inside the building, a man who wore a “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt and a U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist. Chansley is due to appear in court on Friday. Prosecutors said he is a regular drug user and likely has mental health problems.
“Chansley has spoken openly about his belief that he is an alien, a higher being, and he is here on Earth to ascend to another reality,” the filing read.
Prosecutors requested he be detained as he “poses serious risks of flight and danger to the community.” Chansley subscribes to QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory blamed for fueling a section of Trump’s supporters at the Capitol building.
Chansley’s charges are in relation to ‘active participation in an insurrection attempting to violently overthrow the United States government’,. His lawyer says Trump should pardon him as he incited the siege in the first place. Prosecutors also warned ‘the insurrection is still in progress’ in the lead up to Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
Insurrection At Capitol Hill Image: PA
The FBI has over 200 suspects in connection with the Capitol, with more arrests being made each day. Retired firefighter Robert Sanford is charged with throwing a fire extinguisher at a police officer’s head.
The mobs who attack Capitol Hill are said to have consisted of seven hate groups, including white supremacists,