275 criminal cases opened in Capitol riot investigation, number might grow to 300

US investigators have opened up 275 criminal cases and charged roughly 98 individuals in connection to last week’s pro-Donald Trump riot at the US Capitol, federal officials said Friday, emphasizing they are focused on rounding up the most violent offenders.

That number will easily grow to over 300 by the end of the day, Michael Sherwin, acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters Friday.

Shocking new details show the riot last week was extraordinarily violent and posed mortal danger to the top members of the US government.

Law enforcement officials did not deny they are investigating allegations that Capitol Police and lawmakers were involved in the riot. Steven D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office said the FBI will “leave no stone unturned” and is “looking at every piece of the puzzle.” They did not elaborate on those investigations, however. Several Democratic House members have expressed concern that some GOP lawmakers were somehow aiding rioters.

Some of the individuals who breached the Capitol intended to “capture and assassinate elected officials,” federal prosecutors wrote in a new court filing.

While that may have been the motivation of some, Sherwin said that “we don’t have any direct evidence of kill-capture teams,” but added that counterterrorism prosecutors are still looking at coordination between groups.

Vice President Mike Pence also came closer than initially known to the mob, according to new reporting from The Washington Post that stresses the level of danger he and other government leaders faced during the January 6 insurrection. Some of the pro-Trump rioters who rampaged the Capitol were heard screaming “where’s Mike Pence” and seen on video shouting “hang Mike Pence”  upset that Pence was doing his constitutional duty to certify the November election results.

Pence, per the Post, remained in the Senate chamber for about 14 minutes after Capitol Police reported the initially attempted breach of the building.

Authorities are investigating a growing number of current law enforcement officers who allegedly participated in the riots.

“Unfortunately as this case goes on we’re seeing indications that law enforcement officers, both former and current, maybe who have been off duty, participating in this riot activity,” Sherwin said.

Two police officers from Rocky Mount, Virginia, were arrested Thursday on federal charges relating to the riot, Sherwin said.