It has been 48 months since the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, that attempted to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results declaring Joe Biden the winner.
During the siege of the Capitol that day, a mob of Donald Trump supporters used tasers, swords, axes, hatches, knives, fencing, bike racks, riot shields, baseball bats, hockey sticks, flagpoles, PVC piping and knuckle gloves to fight officers assigned to prevent a breach of the government building. More than 140 police officers were assaulted by the mob and many more traumatized by the event.
Trump empowered his followers, including members of militia groups including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, with a dangerous call to action before the siege: “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
The rioters defended Trump’s false claims of election fraud and specifically seemed to target former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, who both refused to stop the lawful certification of the election results.
The Capitol was damaged. Government property was destroyed and stolen. Losses arising from the violent siege exceed $2.8 million.
More than 1,500 have been arrested and charged with crimes associated with the attack.
Four people died on Jan. 6, 2021: Two women (a protestor shot by a Capitol Police officer and a woman crushed by fellow rioters); and two men (one of a heart attack and another of a stroke).
In the aftermath, five officers died, four by suicide and one by natural causes hours after the confrontation with the mob.
Trump called the violent protest in 2021 “a day of love.”
He has now conceded that he lost the 2020 election “by a whisker.”
Trump, as part of his re-election campaign, vowed to pardon those who have been convicted for their actions on Jan. 6, on day one of his presidency, which begins on Jan. 20.
In the 2024 presidential election, Trump won with 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the votes cast for president. Kamala Harris won 74,999,166 votes or 48.3 percent of the votes cast.
FBI asking the public for help
The FBI is still searching for some offenders who assaulted police on Jan. 6, 2021.
The FBI has nine videos of suspects wanted for violent assaults on law enforcement agents or officers.
The FBI has also sought information from the public to help identify additional violent offenders.
The FBI also seeks assistance to locate known fugitives including Evan Neumann, Adam Villarreal, Jeffrey Dale Snyder and Paul Belosic.
For images and video of the wanted attackers, visit https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/capitol-violence.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Charges related to Jan. 6
To date, 1,583 defendants have been federally charged with crimes associated with the attack of the U.S. Capitol.
- 608 defendants charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder
- 174 defendants charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer
- 180 defendants charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon
- 18 defendants charged with seditious conspiracy
- 91 defendants charged with destruction of government property
- 68 defendants charged with theft of government property
All defendants charged in the January 6 prosecution have been charged with some form of trespass or disorderly conduct, in violation of federal criminal codes.
Pleas related to Jan. 6
- 1,009 individuals pleaded guilty
- 327 defendants pleaded guilty to felonies
- 682 defendants pleaded guilty to misdemeanors
- 172 defendants pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement
- 130 defendants pleaded guilty to obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder (riot)
- 69 defendants pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous or deadly weapon
- Four defendants pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy– conspiring to use force against the United States.
Some of the defendants pled guilty to one or multiple felony charges related to their conduct.
Trials
- 221 individuals have been found guilty at contested trials in U.S. District Court, including 10 who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy
- 40 individuals have been convicted following an agreed-upon set of facts presented to and accepted by the court
Sentencing
- 1,100 defendants have had their cases fully adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on Jan. 6
- 667 sentenced to periods of incarceration
- 145 defendants sentenced to periods of incarceration where they were allowed to serve the entirety of their sentence in home detention
Supreme Court Decision – Fischer v. United States
As a result of Fischer v. United States, 23-5572, the government continues to review the cases of approximately 259 defendants who, at the time Fischer was decided, were charged with or convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1512 to determine whether the charge should continue to be prosecuted.
There are zero cases where a defendant was charged only for violating 18 U.S.C. § 1512. In other words, even if the government foregoes this charge, every charged defendant will continue to face exposure to other criminal charges.
Of those 259 defendants, at the time that Fischer was decided, approximately 126 defendants had cases still pending in the U.S. District Court, and 133 defendants had their cases fully adjudicated.
Of the 126 defendants with pending cases at the time that Fischer was decided, the government subsequently decided to forgo the Section 1512(c)(2) charge for approximately 119 defendants and will continue to pursue the charge for seven defendants.
For the 133 defendants whose cases had been adjudicated by the time Fischer was decided (i.e., post-sentencing), the government has taken the position, in response to defense motions, that it does not oppose dismissal or vacatur of the charge in approximately 65 cases. The government similarly continues to assess the remaining cases when appropriate.
To date, six defendants have received a sentencing reduction because of Fischer.
Related links: Jan. 6
- AFP coverage of Jan. 6
- AFP coverage of Donald Trump
- Capitol breach investigation resource page
- Wanted individuals from Jan. 6
Related stories: Jan. 6
- DOJ, FBI continue to pursue Jan. 6 criminals who assaulted police, damaged property
- Former VP Mike Pence: Donald Trump shouldn’t pardon Jan. 6 rioters
- Election 2024: From the reddest part of a blue state, I’m disappointed in you, America
- FBI: 1,500 charged to date in ‘fight’ incited by former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6
- Former federal judge on Trump 14th Amendment case: ‘America must not fail this test’
Further reading: Virginians face charges related to attack
- FBI arrests Waynesboro man for violent actions against police in Jan. 6 attack on Capitol
- Judge convicts Harrisonburg ‘Patriot’ who brandished knife at Jan. 6 insurrection
- Frederick County School Board member pleads guilty to role in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach
- Powhatan man facing felony charges for role in Jan. 6, struggle with officers
- Virginia man who used police baton resisting officers on Jan. 6, 2021, arrested Thursday
- Roanoke woman to serve 31 months in prison for role in Jan. 6 insurrection
- Virginia man guilty of two felonies, four misdemeanors for actions on Jan. 6
- Virginia man sentenced to eight years in prison for Jan. 6 assault on police
- Roanoke men found guilty of felony, misdemeanor offenses in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol
- Louisa man pleads guilty to felony charge for role in violent Jan. 6 insurrection
- Southwest Virginia man arrested for two felony offenses related to Jan. 6 insurrection
- Still worth it? Virginia man who bragged about breaching doors on Jan. 6 convicted
- Montgomery County man sentenced to 40 months in prison for actions on Jan. 6
- Insurrectionist from Virginia ordered to pay $25K fine; led Jan. 6 charge with megaphone
- Virginia man who led ‘patriots’ into U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 sentenced to six months
- DOJ: Culpeper man arrested for actions during ‘Stop the Steal’ insurrection on U.S. Capitol
- Virginia man arrested by FBI for felony obstruction charge related to Jan. 6 insurrection
- Virginia father, son used water bottles, flagpoles in Jan. 6 assault on U.S. Capitol Police
- Former Marine, Virginia Proud Boys member who used ‘big stick’ in breach of Capitol sentenced
- Louisa man arrested for assaulting law enforcement during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
- Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, other charges
- Proud Boys leaders sentenced for seditious conspiracy for 2021 U.S. Capitol breach
- Virginia man arrested for assault on police during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
- Virginia man who described Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach as ‘fun’ sentenced to six years in prison
- Two Virginia men are the latest charged in Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack
- Virginia man among three found guilty for assaulting police officers at Capitol on Jan. 6
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Crystal Graham
