53 Charged, Including 13 Federally, Following Deadly US Capitol Riot
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- More than four dozen people have been charged following the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday afternoon.
As of Friday, 13 people have been charged in federal court and around 40 have been charged in superior court. One of the 13 charged federally is from Maryland, while another is from Virginia.
The man from Maryland, 33-year-old Christopher Alberts, was charged with having a firearm and ammunition on Capitol grounds. He has since appeared in court and been released ahead of a January 28 preliminary hearing.
Court documents say a police officer pushing Alberts back from the Capitol around 90 minutes after a District-wide curfew took effect saw a bulge on Alberts' hip that looked like a gun. When the officer told other officers nearby, Alberts, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, allegedly tried to run.
He was arrested with the black Taurus G2C 9mm handgun, which had a round in the chamber, and two 12-round magazines. Police also reportedly found him with a gas mask, a backpack with a pocket knife, first aid kit and a military ready-to-eat meal.
An Alabama man, Lonnie Coffman, is being held on multiple charges. Officials said his vehicle contained 11 Molotov cocktails.
More complaints have been submitted, officials said.
"The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nation's greatest institutions," Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said in a news release. "My Office, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. We are resolute in our commitment to holding accountable anyone responsible for these disgraceful criminal acts, and to anyone who might be considering engaging in or inciting violence in the coming weeks – know this: you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
CRISIS AT THE CAPITOL:
- Maryland Man Fired After Seen Wearing Work Badge In Photo Of Him Storming Capitol
- Reward Offered As FBI, DC Police Seek Public's Help To Identify Pro-Trump Rioters Who Rushed U.S. Capitol
- As Scrutiny Of Inauguration Security Increases Following US Capitol Riots, Trump Says He Won't Attend
- Capitol Police Officer Dies Due To Injuries Sustained During Riots At U.S. Capitol Building
- 9 Marylanders Arrested, 82 Total, So Far After U.S. Capitol Riot; DC Police Chief Identifies Dead
- Calls For Removal Of Rep. Andy Harris After Alleged Scuffle On House Floor During Election Certification Vote
- Lawmakers Vow To Investigate Police After U.S. Capitol Breach
- PHOTOS: Trump Supporters Clash With Police
- Maryland Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger Calls On Lawmakers To Invoke 25th Amendment, Remove President Trump From Office
- 'We Love You, You're Very Special': President Trump Tweets Message, Later Removed, To Rioters Storming The U.S. Capitol
- 'Dangerous Coup Attempt': Maryland Lawmakers, Forced To Shelter In Place Amid Riots At Capitol, Blast Trump: He 'Needs To Stop This Now'
- Crisis at the Capitol: Complete Coverage
The riot led to five deaths, including of a U.S. Capitol Police officer and a California woman with Maryland ties.
At least 82 people have been arrested, including 11 Marylanders.
CBS News reports facial recognition company XRVision found and identified two members of the neo-Nazi group "The Maryland Skinheads" in the crowd.
Police and the FBI are still searching for others who stormed the Capitol as lawmakers counted Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election.
Maryland Representative Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard Counties, pushed back against rumors the rioters were members of far-left groups like Antifa.
"We know that is not the case at all, but we do know through this act of insurrection, they have attacked, insulted and impugned the integrity of the United States," Mfume told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. "They deserve the swift punishment of the law. All of them."
"What has to be sent is a clear message: Any time people try to take into their hands the overthrow of this government, the punishment will be swift and it will be direct," he said.
Mfume blames President Trump for inciting the violence. He wants the President removed from office and is supporting legislation that would prevent Mr. Trump from ever holding public office again.
"None of these people who are dead had to die if the president did not incite them to riot in what I consider to be an act of treason," Mfume said.
Rep. Kweisi Mfume wants legislation that would prohibit President Trump from holding office again. He describes where he was during the US Capitol breach this week @wjz pic.twitter.com/ZgzvHThcaj
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) January 8, 2021
"Donald Trump at any given moment could say something and do something that creates another situation like that," he said
Appearing on MSNBC Friday, Governor Larry Hogan again said he had to wait an hour and a half for approval to send in the Maryland National Guard while fielding calls from panicked lawmakers.
"Steny Hoyer called me. He was in a bunker with Speaker Pelosi, with Chuck Schumer. He was pleading for help," Governor Hogan said.
The Republican governor repeated his call for the President to resign but was less sure about whether he should be impeached. "I don't see how they can do it in a week. It's not going to happen that quickly."