Capitol Rioters Wanted To 'Capture And Assassinate' Lawmakers: Prosecutors

Congress Holds Joint Session To Ratify 2020 Presidential Election

A legal document filed by federal prosecutors says that members of a pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol Building on January 6 wanted to "capture and assassinate" elected officials. The accusation was made as prosecutors made their case to hold Jacob Chansley, who is known as the QAnon Shaman, without bail.

"The crimes charged in the indictment involve active participation in an insurrection attempting to violently overthrow the United States Government. By Chansley's own admissions to the FBI and news media, the insurrection is still in progress, and he intends to continue participating," prosecutors wrote.

They also cited a note that Chansley left on the Senate Chamber dais that said, "it's only a matter of time, justice is coming."

"Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government. Chansley left a note on the Senate Chamber dais, where Vice President Mike Pence had been presiding over the session just minutes before, warning 'it's only a matter of time, justice is coming.'"

While Chansley claimed his note was not meant as a threat, investigators disagreed.

"When questioned as to the meaning of that statement, Chansley went on a lengthy diatribe describing current and past United States political leaders as infiltrators, specifically naming Vice President Mike Pence, former President Barack Obama, former Senator Hillary Clinton, and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden as infiltrators involved in various types of wrongdoing," prosecutors added. "Although he stated his note was not a threat, the Government strongly disagrees."

Photo: Getty Images


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