Capitol rioters who posted snaps of themselves participating in deadly DC attack leave trail of 140k images for FBI
CAPITOL rioters who posted photographs of themselves participating in the deadly Washington, DC, attack left a trail of 140,000 images for the FBI. Federal authorities said they have approximately 140,000 snaps and videos of rioters during the Capitol building protest in Washington, DC, on January 6. Steven D’Antuono, the FBI’s Washington Field Office Assistant Director, told reporters, […]
CAPITOL rioters who posted photographs of themselves participating in the deadly Washington, DC, attack left a trail of 140,000 images for the FBI.
Federal authorities said they have approximately 140,000 snaps and videos of rioters during the Capitol building protest in Washington, DC, on January 6.
Steven D’Antuono, the FBI’s Washington Field Office Assistant Director, told reporters, according to Bloomberg News: “We are scouring every one for investigative and intelligence leads.
“We continue to ask for more.”
Incriminating social media posts led to the identification of more than 275 suspects and the arrest of 98 people.
According to the report – in most cases – those who were arrested shared footage or photos to social media of themselves to the internet.
Officials revealed at least 100 of the 275 suspects have since been charged.
Investigator are continuing to look through social media platforms, including Twitter, “free-speech app” Parler, and YouTube.
Facial recognition technology is also being used to hunt down suspects, a police department told the news outlet.
Location data on rioters’ cellphones will also be useful in the search, if search warrants are issued.
In one instance, Matthew Bledsoe, of Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested and charged on Friday in the aftermath of the January 6 riots.
An FBI statement revealed: “FBI Agents received a tip that Matthew Bledsoe had been part of the group that entered the Capitol illegally.
“Upon following up, they received a video compilation that was posted to his Instagram account – theessentialmattbledsoe – which included several selfie photographs of Mr. Bledsoe throughout the day and some videos clips.
“These images appear to be captured by Mr. Bledsoe on a device he is carrying.”
Bledsoe was charged with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority, disorderly conduct, and violent entry.
One day later, “White nationalist” Tim Gionet – a far-right YouTube personality known as “Baked Alaska” – was also arrested by the FBI.
Gionet was arrested after he live-streamed from the US Capitol during the riots earlier this month, a law enforcement official revealed.
During a 20-minute livestream, Gionet shared video of supporters clad in MAGA and Trump gear inside the Capitol.
Jake Angeli – whose real name is Jacob Chansley – stormed the Capitol last week shirtless with horns on his head and said he felt he was “answering the call of our president.”
He is a well-known supporter of the QAnon conspiracy in Arizona and was indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts – including violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol.
Another capitol rioter, Jenna Ryan, live-streamed the insurrection and was arrested by the FBI on Friday.
Ryan admitted she was “listening” to Donald Trump when she went to the Capitol and is asking for a pardon.
At the Capitol, she posed in front of a broken window for a photo and smiled.
Her photo caption read: “Window at The capital. And if the news doesn’t stop lying about us we’re going to come after their studios next.”
Meanwhile, a formal Air Force Lieutenant Colonel was arrested after he stormed the Senate chamber during the Capitol riots.
When retired military man Larry Rendall Brock – seen wearing tactical gear and carrying zip ties in footage from the Capitol mayhem – was recognized by his ex-wife, she immediately notified the feds.
“When I saw this was happening I was afraid he would be there,” she told the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center adding, “I think you already know he was there.”
“It is such a good picture of him and I recognize his patch,” added Brock’s marital partner of 18 years.
Brock was wearing several patches on his combat helmet and body armor, including one bearing a yellow fleur de lis – the insignia of the 706th Fighter Squadron.
He later reportedly confirmed he was the man in the photos but claimed he found the zip tie handcuffs on the floor.
In addition to Brock, Eric Gavelek Munchel – a 30-year-old bartender in Nashville, Tennessee – also attended the Capitol riots and was arrested on January 10.
Munchel was pictured with his mom and was also pictured wearing full paramilitary gear.
His mom, Lisa Eisenhart, has also been arrested.
On January 12, Judge Shlomo Mostofsky’s son Aaron was arrested on multiple charges for his role in the Capitol riots.
During the riots, he was dressed in fur pelts and a bulletproof vest.
Criminal charges against Mostofsky include theft of government property for allegedly stealing a police riot shield and bulletproof vest, according to the New York Post.
Two Virginia police officers – Sergeants Thomas Robertson and Jacob Fracker – were charged after taking a selfie during the riots and allegedly boasted on Facebook that they were “f***ing proud.”
Most read in News
The cops posed in front of a statue of American Revolution general John Stark.
The Capitol riots took place when US senators met in Congress to vote and certify the results of the election.
Protesters broke down fences outside the US Capitol and stormed the building and Capitol buildings were put on lockdown.