Federal prosecutors investigate possible charges of seditious conspiracy in attack on Capitol Hill

A federal prosecutor in Washington, DC said his office was examining possible charges of seditious conspiracy in a massive and “unprecedented” federal investigation on Jan. 6. assault on the US Capitol.

Acting U.S. District Attorney Michael Sherwin on Tuesday said that a “strike force” of senior national security and public corruption officials within his office was investigating charges related to the acts. more odious “who took place at the Capitol. Sherwin said the team was investigating whether the rioters coordinated and planned their assault, going through travel records, financial information and communications.

Since the assault, which left a Capitol Police Officer and four other deaths, the FBI has opened more than 170 “subject matter files,” which means individuals identified as having potentially committed a crime inside or outside the Capitol, Sherwin said. Of these, more than 70 people face charges in local and federal courts, with a range of charges including illegal entry, disorderly conduct, theft, assault, and assault. weapons violations.

Sherwin said some of those already charged with lower-level offenses like trespassing could face more serious felony charges as prosecutors continue to develop their case.

Seditious Conspiracy – defined as two or more people who conspire to overthrow the government by force, oppose government authority by force, or “prevent, hinder or delay” the execution of any US law by force – is punishable by 20 years in prison. Sherwin said the office was prioritizing continued assaults on local and federal agents inside and outside the Capitol, saying some officers were engaged in “hand-to-hand combat” with some of the rioters. .

“I think people are going to be shocked by some of the egregious contacts that have taken place on Capitol Hill,” Sherwin said.

Sherwin said a team of prosecutors had also been tasked with investigating assaults on members of the media, some of whom were “specifically targeted” by the mob. The office also prioritized crimes involving weapons and destructive devices, Sherwin said.

FBI is offering a reward of up to $ 50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a wanted person plant homemade bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee on the day of the assault.

Sherwin said other possible charges included the theft of potential national security information, felony murder and excessive force civil rights investigations.

Sherwin called the scope and scale of the federal investigation “unprecedented,” with thousands of potential witnesses and possibly hundreds of other suspects to be charged in the coming weeks as investigators scour social media and a flood of digital advice.

Steven D’Antuono, deputy director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, said his investigators had received over 100,000 digital documents, which he described as “absolutely fantastic.” He asked the public to continue to tip.

Sherwin said investigators were focusing on the most important charges as a “deterrent,” but issued a warning to anyone involved in the riot: “Let it be just an intrusion on the Capitol. or someone has planted a homemade bomb, you will be found. ”