Capitol Chaos: N.Y. Court Employee Brendan Hunt Accused Of Making Threats Against Elected Officials
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Twelve National Guard members have been removed from the security operation at the U.S. Capitol due to fears of insider attacks.
Officials said Tuesday an FBI background check found they had ties to right wing militia groups, or posted extremist views online.
They added there was no threat to President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to be inaugurated on Wednesday.
The FBI is vetting all 25,000 National Guard troops deployed to Washington D.C.
This as more people from the Tri-State Area appeared in court Tuesday for their roles in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.
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In the Ridgewood section of Queens, police and FBI surrounded the home of 37-year-old Brendan Hunt, an assistant court analyst for the New York State Office of Court Administration. He was not at the Capitol but is alleged to have posted a video online two days after the riot titled, "Kill Your Senators," specifically citing the inauguration.
"[T]hat's probably the best time to do this, get your guns, show up to D.C., and literally just spray these [expletive] ..." a voice on the video says.
He also allegedly said, "What you need to do is take up arms, get to D.C., probably the inauguration ... If anybody has a gun, give me it, I'll go there myself and shoot them and kill them."
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Back in December, Hunt allegedly posted online asking President Donald Trump, "We want you to hold a public execution of Pelosi, AOC, Schumer etc. And if you don't do it, the citizenry will."
Hunt was denied bail.
"He never caused any trouble. We have noisier neighbors than him. He's always quiet," neighbor Jerry Bolinger said.
As a result of his arrest, Hunt has been suspended without pay, according to a court spokesman, pending further administrative action, CBS2's Ali Bauman reports.
Watch Alice Gainer's report --
Also in court Tuesday was Nicolas Moncada of Staten Island.
People at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he was a student, alerted authorities after seeing his social media posts.
"We have seen friends, family members, co-workers and others reporting information to us," acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said.
Moncada was released on $250,000 bond.
Retired FDNY firefighter Thomas Fee of Freeport, Long Island, took a selfie inside the Capitol and a video and allegedly sent them to his girlfriend's brother, who happens to be a federal agent who then turned him in. He was released on $100,000 bond and has to turn in his firearms, avoid any political gatherings or state capitols, and undergo mental health testing.
In court in Trenton, New Jersey, was Army reservist Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who was recorded allegedly admitting to entering the Capitol and "encouraging other members of the mob to 'advance' ...giving directions via both voice and hand signals."
The 30-year-old from from Colts Neck works as a contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle, where he has a "secret" security clearance and access to munitions. He was described as "an avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer."
He's facing several charges, including obstructing a law enforcement officer and violent and disorderly entry.
An upstate New York man, Edward Lang, was also in court Tuesday afternoon in Westchester County for his alleged role at the Capitol. The Newburgh resident allegedly appears on video inside the building.
CBS2's Alice Gainer and Ali Bauman contributed to this report
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