Friday marks the two year anniversary of the infamous Jan. 6 attack where pro-Trump supporters evaded the U.S. Capitol, ransacking the building and forcing Congress to seek safety.
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol. AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
It took around four hours to secure the building so Congress could certify President Biden’s election win.
Several people died as a result of the insurrection, including protestors like Ashli Babbitt—who was shot and killed by police when she tried to break into a protected area—and Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick.
An investigation was launched by a House select committee to look into the attack—the investigation ended in December 2022 and the committee has since been disbanded.
The committee’s final report accuses Trump of inciting the riots in response to the 2020 presidential election and encouraging rioters to “overturn” the vote, the report also recommends Trump be barred from political office in the future, and recommends the Department of Justice pursue criminal charges of Trump because of his involvement.
A majority of Congress have spoken out against the insurrection, and even Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who were both openly critical of Trump.
HOW MANY WERE CONVICTED OF SEDITION
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of right-wing militia group Oath Keepers and Kelly Meggs, the leader of the organization’s Florida chapter were both convicted of seditious conspiracy (the agreement between two or more people to overthrow the government) in November 2022 due to their roles in the insurrection. Three other leaders and members of the organization were charged with other federal offenses and were acquitted of the sedition charges. This marks the first time in over two decades that the Justice Department has found someone guilty of sedition; less than 12 people have been convicted of this crime.
HOW MANY CHARGES IS TRUMP POTENTIALLY FACING
Four. In December 2022, the January 6 committee referred Trump to the Justice Department and recommended four charges: obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., inciting an insurrection and conspiracy to make false statements. This is the first time in history members of Congress have recommended a president for criminal prosecution.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE CHARGED
978. According to a Department of Justice database, there have been about 978 people charged and arrested with multiple crimes related to the attack. The median age of the defendants is 39, with over 86% identifying as male and the majority coming from Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and California, according to George Washington University’s Project on Extremism.
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN CHARGED WITH
Some of the charges include obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds and forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding federal officers. There have been rioters arrested in “nearly all 50 states,” and over 260 of them have been charged with more serious crimes relating to assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the DOJ.
HOW MANY HAVE PLEADED GUILTY
465. About 465 rioters have pleaded guilty and entered into plea deals. The charges they’ve pleaded guilty to include assault on law enforcement and obstruction of a civil proceeding. John Schaffer, a lifetime founding member of the Oath Keepers, was the first to enter into a plea deal and faces up to 30 years in prison, according to the DOJ.
HOW MANY HAVE BEEN SENTENCED
335. According to the DOJ, about 335 people have received sentencing in relation to the January 6 attacks, and approximately 185 have been sentenced to time in prison. Florida resident Paul Hodgkins was the first person federally sentenced in relation to the attack. He received eight months in federal prison and two years of supervised release.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUBPOENAED
Over 100. The House committee overseeing the January 6 investigation has issued over 100 subpoenas to people including members of Congress like then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, White House officials like former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and former chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump himself. The committee has also issued subpoenas to multiple companies like Reddit, Meta and Twitter where it’s suspected communication regarding the riot took place.
HOW LONG WAS THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION
18 months. The January 6 committee spent 18 months investigating the deadly insurrection and Trump’s role in it. The committee released an 845-page report on Dec. 22, 2022 detailing their findings. “As the Select Committee concludes its work, their words must be a clarion call to all Americans: to vigilantly guard our Democracy and to give our vote only to those dutiful in their defense of our Constitution,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in the report.
Source: forbes.com
