What all we know about Capitol riot arrests

America witnessed as rioters broke into the U.S Capitol on January 6 – crashing through windows, pressing up stairways, and making lawmakers and law enforcement run for their lives.

The protesters who barraged into the Capitol that day left federal authorities with a tremendous task: finding and charging those responsible.

Acting Deputy Attorney General John Carlin said last month, “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.”

The government said that “The Capitol Attack is likely the most complex investigation ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.”

Most of the rioters were permitted to leave the crime scene, forcing investigators to conduct a manhunt for the pro-Trump crowd that stormed the halls of Congress in the nation. 

How many have been charged so far?

Federal prosecutors at present have charged more than 300 people and arrested more than 280 related to the events of January 6. The investigators said that they are referring to more than 270,000 digital media tips sent to them from around the country. 

What do we know about the suspects?

Federico Guillermo Klein

Federico Guillermo Klein, a Trump appointee and a former State Department aide was arrested first by the FBI in March. Mr. Klein, 42, is accused of many felonies related to the riot, including beating police with a stolen riot shield.

Robert Keith Packer

Mr. Packer was arrested in Virginia for wearing a hoodie with the words “Camp Auschwitz” which was a Nazi extermination camp where more than a million people, mostly Jews, were murdered during World War II by Germany.

He has been charged with trespassing in a federal building, violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Jake Angeli – ‘Q Shaman’

Jacob Anthony Chansley is a well-known follower of the unfounded QAnon conspiracy theory who lives in Glendale, Arizona. He is also known as  Jake Angeli or as he describes himself the “Q Shaman.”

Mr. Chansley, 33, has been charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct after appearing in multiple images with a painted face, fur hat, and horns while carrying a “Q sent me” banner in public inside the halls of Congress and the Senate chamber.

Nick Ochs – Proud Boys

Nick Ochs is accused of unlawful entry in restricted buildings. He posted a picture smoking a cigarette inside the Capitol building, tweeting: “Hello from the Capital lol.”

Mr. Ochs calls himself a “Proud Boy Elder from Hawaii”. The Proud Boys founded in 2016 is an anti-immigrant and all-male far-right group. Nick Ochs was arrested at an airport in Honolulu, Hawaii by the FBI.

Doug Jensen – QAnon

Doug Jensen, 41, from Des Moines, Iowa, has been arrested and faces five federal charges, which include violent entry and disorderly conduct and preventing a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder.

Mr. Jensen is seen in one video showing a lone African American officer holding back the mob. He can be seen chasing a police officer up the stairs inside the Capitol wearing a shirt with the QAnon slogan “trust the plan”.

Derrick Evans

Mr. Evans filmed himself storming the Capitol wearing what appears to be a motorcycle helmet, pushing through the crowd. He was sworn in as a Republican delegate in the West Virginia state legislature a month earlier. 

In a now-deleted Facebook live stream, Evans said “We’re going in, we did it!” “Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!” he yelled, adding, “patriots inside, baby!”

His access to the West Virginia statehouse was cut off due to his participation in the riot by the lawmakers in his home state.

He is charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct by the federal authorities.

Richard Barnett

Richard Barnett, 60, is from Arkansas. Barnett was pictured with his feet on a desk in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. He was also seen outside the Capitol with a personalized envelope he took from her office.

He’s been charged for unlawful entry, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and theft of public money, property, or records.

As per local media reports, Mr. Barnett is part of a group that supports gun rights, and that he was interviewed at a “Stop the Steal” rally following the presidential election.

Riley June Williams

Riley June Williams, 22, a woman from Pennsylvania is accused of stealing a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.

Ms. Williams’ former romantic partner told the FBI that she had appeared in pictures of the Capitol riot.

She allegedly had said that she hoped to sell the laptop to Russian intelligence agents.

The computer was only used for presentations, said Mrs. Pelosi’s. Investigators haven’t recovered yet.

Authorities in Delaware charged Kevin Seefried, his son Hunte, was charged on 14 January for allegedly being seen in viral photos carrying a Confederate flag in the Capitol during the riots. Charges are entering a restricted building, violent entry, and disorderly conduct.

Federal cases are in process across the country and could lead to some significant prison sentences for those involved.