The Department of Justice is pursuing significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol siege, which may lead to sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
The announcement came from Acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin at a press conference on Tuesday.
“Just yesterday, our office organized a strike force of very senior national security prosecutors and public corruption prosecutors,” Sherwin said. “Their only marching orders from me are to build seditious and conspiracy charges related to the most heinous acts that occurred in the Capitol.”
“Regardless of if it was just a trespass at the Capitol or if someone planted a pipe bomb. You will be charged and you will be found,” the top prosecutor added.
Over 70 people were already facing criminal charges and Sherwin expects that number “to grow into the hundreds.” He added “Just the gamut of cases we’re looking at is mind-blowing.” The FBI has also opened 170 case files.
According to Sherwin, the federal investigation into the US Capitol attack is being treated as a “significant counterterrorism or counterintelligence investigation” and the Capitol is treated as a massive crime scene.
Federal authorities are still trying to identify the person or persons who left pipe bombs on Wednesday near the DC headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Democratic National Committee (DNC).
In a press release on Tuesday, Sherwin asked members of the press to report any instances where a reporter, journalist, photographer, videographer, or other member of the press or broadcast media was targeted during the January 6 incidents at the Capitol. Such reports can be emailed to USADC.CAPITOLRIOTS-PRESS-INJURY-DAMAGE@usdoj.gov.
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