FEBRUARY 28, 2021
PROGRESSIVE OPINION AND NEWS
THIS RIOTER TOOK
TIME OUT TO INSULT HIS GIRLFRIEND, AT WHICH POINT SHE TURNED HIS NAME IN TO THE
FBI FOR BEING THERE. I HAVE TO LAUGH.
Capitol riot suspect turned in by ex after texting her, "If you can't see the election was stolen you're a moron"
BY CASSIDY MCDONALD
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 / 11:43 AM / CBS NEWS
Richard Michetti
texted his ex during the Capitol riot to say she was "a moron" if she
didn't believe the election was stolen. She turned him in.
Michetti is now
facing charges for his alleged conduct January 6 after prosecutors said someone
with whom Michetti had a "prior romantic relationship" shared with
law enforcement texts and videos that he'd sent her during the attack.
"If you can't
see the election was stolen you're a moron," Michetti texted her that day.
Michetti was charged
with entering or remaining in restricted building or grounds, violent entry and
disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, obstruction of justice as well as a
charge making him punishable as a principal.
Prosecutors listed a
series of texts that Michetti sent his ex as he made his way to the U.S.
Capitol.
Around 7:15 p.m. the
night before the riot, he wrote, "I just got to dc I'll call when I get
off."
*FBI focusing on one possible suspect in Capitol officer's death
*How Black Americans viewed the Capitol riot
*Lawmakers press acting Capitol Police chief on January 6 preparations
*Over 300 charged so far: What we know about the Capitol riot arrests
The woman told law
enforcement that Michetti was in Washington on January 6 because he believed
the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump.
PHOTOGRAPH -- Michetti.png,
Prosecutors say this photo, submitted to the FBI through their tip line, shows
Richard Michetti standing on the U.S. Capitol steps January 6. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
At around 6:04 p.m.,
he sent a series of text messages to his ex. One said: "I understand your
point but what I'm saying is [ex's name] the election was rigged and everyone
knows it. All's we wanted was an investigation that's it. And they couldn't investigate
the biggest presidential race in history with mail in ballots who everyone
knows is easy to fraud."
In fact, Attorney
General William Barr authorized U.S. attorneys across the country to
"pursue substantial allegations" of voting irregularities in the 2020
election, but the Justice Department uncovered no evidence of widespread fraud
that would change the outcome of the election. Election officials in individual
states also conducted their own audits and recounts, which did not find fraud
or change the outcome of the election.
"This is our
country do you think we live like kings because no one sacrificed
anything?" Michetti said in texts to his ex. "...the vote was fraud
and trump won but they won't audit the votes. We are patriots we are not
revolutionaries the other side is revolutionaries they want to destroy this
country and they say it openly."
He also wrote,
"This is tyranny they say there and told us 'we rigged the election and
there's nuthin you can do about it' what do you think should be done?"
In his texts,
prosectors say, Michetti detailed what he was doing on January 6, sending his
ex videos of rioters yelling inside the Capitol building.
"...it's going
down here we stormed the building they held us back with spray and teargas and
paintballs," he wrote. "Gotta stop the vote it's fraud this is our
country."
He told his ex,
"my eyes are burnitin" [sic] and "thousands of people
storming."
A number of Capitol
riot suspects have been reported to law enforcement by an ex or family member.
Riley Williams, accused of stealing Nancy Pelosi's laptop during the riot,
surrendered to authorities after her ex called the FBI multiple times to report
having seen her in videos inside the Capitol. Guy Reffitt, who was indicted on
charges including obstruction of justice, allegedly threatened his son and
daughter after his son spoke to the FBI about his actions.
Clare Hymes
contributed to this report.
First published on
February 25, 2021 / 11:43 AM
© 2021 CBS
Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Over 300 charged from more than 40 states: What we know about the "unprecedented" Capitol riot arrests
BY CLARE HYMES, CASSIDY MCDONALD, ELEANOR WATSON
UPDATED ON: FEBRUARY 26, 2021 / 7:16 PM / CBS NEWS
VIDEO – WHO ARE THE
CAPITOL INSURRECTIONISTS? 07:53 MIN.
America watched as
hordes of rioters broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6 — crushing through
windows, pressing up stairways, and sending lawmakers and law enforcement
running for their lives. The flood of protesters who streamed into the Capitol
that day left federal authorities with an equally immense task: finding and
charging those responsible.
Federal prosecutors
have now charged more than 300 people, and arrested more than 280, in
connection with the events of January 6, Acting Deputy Attorney General John
Carlin said Friday. A Justice Department official said this week that the
department had opened files on approximately 540 subjects.
"The
investigation into those responsible is moving at a speed and scale that's
unprecedented, and rightly so. Those responsible must be held to account, and
they will be," Carlin said.
As law enforcement
continues to round up alleged attackers, here's what CBS News has learned about
the people who were arrested:
How many have been
charged?
Over 300 defendants
have been charged in federal court. CBS News has reviewed the charging
documents for 258 defendants whose cases were unsealed, and of those, at least
84 were also indicted by grand juries.
*FBI focusing on one possible suspect in Capitol officer's death
*How Black Americans viewed the Capitol riot
*Lawmakers press acting Capitol Police chief on January 6 preparations
*Over 300 charged so far: What we know about the Capitol riot arrests
How many have served
in the military?
At least 23 of those
arrested are veterans and three are currently enlisted in the military — two in the Army
Reserve and one in the National Guard — according to military service records
and court documents obtained by CBS News.
Of the veterans, 12
have served in the U.S. Marines, eight served in the Army, two served in the
Navy and one served in the Air Force.
The Army Reserve
shared the following statement with CBS News: "The U.S. Army Reserve takes
all allegations of Soldier or Army civilian involvement in extremist groups
seriously and will address this issue in accordance with Army regulations
and the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure due process. Extremist
ideologies and activities directly oppose our values and beliefs and those who
subscribe to extremism have no place in our ranks."
How many worked in
law enforcement?
At least five of
those arrested were employed as law enforcement officers at the time of the
riot, and at least three of those arrested had previously worked as police
officers. Prosecutors also charged one current firefighter and one
retired firefighter.
Of the five police
officers, four have since lost their jobs. An officer in North Cornwall
Township, Pennsylvania was suspended without pay after he was charged
with, among other crimes, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.
Houston police officer Tam Dinh Pham and Monmouth County correctional
police officer Marissa Suarez both resigned after they were arrested, and
two Virginia police officers were fired after prosecutors charged them for their
alleged conduct at the Capitol.
Laura Steele, a
member of the Oath Keepers militia indicted for conspiracy,
worked for the High Point Police Department in North Carolina for 12
years before she was terminated for conduct toward superior personnel, absence
from duty, and violating a communications policy, a spokesperson for High
Point Police said. Her husband, Kenneth Steele — who was not alleged to be
at the Capitol riot — retired on January 1 as assistant police chief. Thomas
Webster, who prosecutors said is a former New York Police Department officer,
was charged after he allegedly lunged at a Capitol Police officer with a
metal flagpole during the Capitol riot. Nicholes Lentz — who the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement said is a former officer in the North
Miami Beach and Fort Pierce police departments — was charged after posting
videos from inside the Capitol. In a video, he said, "We're not here to
hurt any cops of course. I love my boys in blue, but this is overwhelming for
them."
Additionally, firefighter
and paramedic Andrew Williams was arrested for his participation in the
riot, and retired firefighter Robert Sanford was arrested and accused of
throwing a fire extinguisher that hit three police officers in the head.
Common charges
Acting U.S. Attorney
Michael Sherwin said last month that prosecutors would move away from charging
the easily identifiable "internet stars" who appeared in photos and
on social media and begin to build more complicated conspiracy cases
related to militia groups' coordination during the attack. So far, at least
18 have been charged with conspiracy, a charge that alleges they coordinated
with others to commit an offense.
More than 20 have
been charged under a destruction of government property statute. During
proceedings for two of those defendants, the government said their crimes
amounted to "terrorism" — an allegation that is not itself a charge
but could influence prison sentences if the men are found guilty.
The FBI told CBS
News earlier this month that 40 people have been arrested for assault on law
enforcement officers. The crime carries penalties ranging from one to 20
years, depending on the circumstances of the assault. Federal prosecutors
have also charged at least 195 alleged rioters with "restricted building
or grounds" charges.
How many have
extremist affiliations?
Authorities have
connected at least 34 alleged rioters to extremist groups, including the
Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, Texas Freedom Force and the
conspiracy group QAnon.
How many were women?
While those arrested
in the January 6 mob were mostly men, at least 31 women have also been
arrested for their alleged participation.
How old were those
arrested?
Among the 82
defendants whose ages are known, the average age was 42. The youngest-known
alleged rioter is 18-year-old Bruno Joseph Cua, who prosecutors accused
of assaulting an officer after he posted online, "President Trump is
calling us to FIGHT!"
The oldest rioters
were two 70-year-old men: Bennie Parker, an alleged Oath Keeper, and Lonnie
Coffman, an Alabama man who authorities say brought a car full of weapons and
explosives to Washington, D.C.
How many have been
released?
At least 121 people
have been approved to go home after posting bail or agreeing to supervised
release.
How many leads are
being followed?
Federal law
enforcement has issued more than 500 grand jury subpoenas and search
warrants, and the FBI has fielded more than 200,000 digital media tips
from people hoping to share evidence of the riot.
Recent updates on
notable cases
A Capitol riot
suspect was turned in by his ex after he texted her, "If you can't see
the election was stolen you're a moron."
An Oath Keepers
member, Jessica Watkins, on Tuesday became the third Capitol rioter accused of
committing a "crime of terrorism."
The daughter of a
Virginia man arrested during the U.S. Capitol assault said her father is
"brainwashed."
Federal prosecutors indicted
six members of the Oath Keepers militia, who the government added as
co-defendants to an existing indictment for three alleged Oath Keepers. Seven
of the group were part of a tactical "stack" of people dressed in
combat gear who pushed through crowds to enter the Capitol, the government
said.
Paulina Smolinski
contributed to this report.
First published on
January 26, 2021 / 5:36 PM
© 2021 CBS
Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NOW FOR SOMETHING
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VERY GOOD IMPRESSION OF PRINCE HARRY.
#9 ON TRENDING
An Afternoon with Prince Harry & James Corden, 17:03 MIN.
10,140,510 views • Feb 26, 2021
The Late Late Show
with James Corden
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Now that the Duke
and Duchess of Sussex are settled into Southern California, James Corden
thought it was time to show his friend Prince Harry the sights. From tea on an
open top bus to visiting the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" mansion,
Prince Harry gets the tour he never dreamed of. Special thanks to Spartan for
providing an incredible Spartan Race Obstacle Course to run. Learn more:
spartan.com
END OF FEBRUARY 28
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