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Trump supporter Jacob Chansley, pictured wearing a Viking horn and fur hat, is said to have planned to capture the elected officials and liquidate them, according to the US Department of Justice. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP / NTB
Some of President Donald Trump’s supporters planned “to capture and liquidate elected officials,” according to the US Department of Justice.
It arises in a charge made Thursday night against Jacob Chansley of Arizona, who was photographed inside Congress wearing a naked torso, Viking helmet and fur hat. He is expected to appear in court on Friday.
“Strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions in Congress, supports that the intention of the rebels was to capture and liquidate elected officials in the United States government,” he said, according to the AFP news agency.
Investigators believe Chansley left Vice President Mike Pence a note saying “it’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.” He was arrested because there is a serious risk of flight and because he is a danger to society, it is said.
The National Guard is standing guard in front of Congress in Washington DC after the assault on the Congress building last week. Several people with police and military backgrounds were involved in the assault. Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP / NTB
Military personnel and police
At least 21 current or former military and police officers were observed in or around Congress during last week’s storm. One of them has been arrested. In addition, more than 10 soldiers and police officers are under investigation, according to a review by the AP news agency.
In several cases, it appeared that those who broke into Congress used the same tactics and the same type of bulletproof vests and technology as the police.
American extremism experts have been concerned for years that radical right-wing militia groups and white supremacist groups are radicalizing and recruiting people with police or military backgrounds.
ISIS and al-Qaeda would drool over someone with the training and experience of an American soldier. These people have skills that far exceed what any foreign terrorist group can do, says Michael German, a former FBI agent and fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.
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Right-wing radicals in the army
A Pentagon official told AFP on Thursday that the Defense Department has observed an increase in radical right-wing activity in the military over the past year, which is also reflected in the rest of society.
“We know that some groups are actively trying to recruit military personnel for their cause, or to encourage members to enlist in the military for the purpose of acquiring the skills and experience of the military,” he said.
The Pentagon’s inspector general says an investigation will be launched into how effective military programs are in countering support from extremist and criminal groups.
More than 100 arrests
The FBI arrested more than 100 people in connection with the assault on Congress, and they are still looking for people who could pose a security threat to the opening ceremony on January 20.
FBI Director Christopher Wray says more than 200 suspects have been identified in connection with the riots.
Among the defendants are a man waving the southern flag in Congress, a man wearing a sweater with the inscription “Camp Auschwitz” and an American swimmer who has won Olympic gold.
