In a footnote to a charging affidavit,an FBI agent noted,“Your affiant believes that there may be more persons involved in this particular conspiracy than the persons described throughout this affidavit,and the investigation is ongoing.”
The FBI previously has alleged that Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola,of Rochester,NY,was one of the first to lead the mob both outside and inside the Capitol. The FBI has accused him in court records of removing barricades,stampeding police,stealing an officer’s riot shield and using it to break in a Capitol window that allowed others to rush in perilously close to where Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated.
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Pezzola faces charges including counts of obstructing a government proceeding and two crimes of violence,including destruction of government property to intimidate,coerce,or retaliate against government action - which by law is a federal crime of terrorism,prosecutors said Wednesday in securing his detention pending trial.
Also charged is Nordean,30,whose communications the FBI alleged indicate that he and others were planning in advance to organise a group that would attempt to overwhelm police barricades and breach the US Capitol.
Nordean,also known as Rufio Panman,was also charged with obstruction of the vote certification and the statutory terrorism charge of aiding and abetting destruction of property to intimidate or retaliate against the government. US prosecutors are appealing a magistrate judge’s release order issued on Monday.
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The FBI has alleged that Nordean and others appeared motivated in part by what they perceived to be an insufficient police response to the stabbing of one of their members who attended a December pro-Trump demonstration in D.C.
The Kansas City group arrested Thursday interacted with the Nordean-Biggs group,appearing to move together and communicate during the riot,the FBI alleged.
All five in the Kansas City group wore pieces of orange tape from their headgear or backpacks,the affidavit alleged,and rolls of tape were carried at one point by Kuehne. Chrestman carried a wooden club or ax handle wrapped in a blue flag,court documents said.
The bearded Chrestman,wearing a black cap,hooded sweatshirt and tactical vest,has similar facial features to Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes,the FBI agent noted,and has been misidentified as McInnes by some social media sleuths who noted Chrestman’s appearance in videos of the riot.
Video footage taken as a crowd presses up against a thin line of Capitol Police on the west front of the building shows Chrestman shouting,“Whose house is this?” and the crowd answering,“Our house,” according to charging papers
“Do you want your house back?” he added,the FBI said,adding,“Take it!”
At another point,Chrestman allegedly shouted on video at an officer,“You shoot and I’ll take your fucking ass out!” and called on other members to stop police from arresting one rioter,“Don’t let them take him!”