Capitol riots: Where the cases of these 6 notable suspects stand
FILE – In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo rioters loyal to President Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Arguments begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on allegations that he incited the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
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WASHINGTON (NewsNation Now) — It has been more than two months since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The FBI continues to search for suspects.
More than 300 people face charges stemming from the siege, which left five people dead. The U.S. Justice Department on Friday said it expects to file criminal charges against more than 100 additional people.
Many others, however, were taken into custody in the days that followed the insurrection. Here is the latest on their cases:
Doug Jensen
Doug Jensen – the Des Moines, Iowa man seen leading a group of rioters through the US Capitol Building on January 6th – will remain in custody following his arraignment in federal court in late February.
Jensen faces seven federal charges for his role in the assault on the U.S. Capitol. Those charges were escalated after authorities learned Jensen was carrying a weapon (a knife) during the attack. On Feb. 23, Jensen pleaded not guilty at his arraignment to all seven charges. A virtual court appearance is scheduled for March 25.
The judge ruled that Jensen will remain in custody while he awaits trial. Prosecutors pointed to Jensen’s past criminal history and the weight of evidence against him as reasons for him to remain in jail in the Washington, D.C. area. Prosecutors say dozens of photos and videos from the attack show Jensen at the head of a group charging at police officers, including Eugene Goodman.
Jensen has said he is an adherent to the “QAnon” conspiracy theories and says he wore a “Q” shirt on the day of the attack so that the fictitious character would receive credit for the assault. In their court filings, prosecutors say Jensen was hopeful on January 6th that members of Congress and former Vice President Mike Pence would be taken into custody by fellow rioters. They also argue that Jensen’s views on the legality of President Joe Biden’s election haven’t changed.
Klete Keller
On Tuesday, Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller pleaded not guilty on seven charges during a remote hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C.
Keller said little during the hearing, the Los Angeles Times reports, telling the court “good afternoon, doing well, thank you” after he was introduced to the prosecutor. He is due back in court April 6.
A federal arrest warrant for Keller contains pictures that investigators said show Keller with a mob of people inside the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Video of the insurrection appears to show a bearded Keller inside the Capitol building, wearing an Olympic team jacket with “USA” printed on the back and sleeves.
A criminal complaint said the 6-foot-6-inch Keller was also easily noticeable in footage from that day because he was so much taller than the people around him.
According to the New York Times, several former teammates and coaches recognized Keller in the footage, and few were surprised by his presence at the riot. His now-deleted social media accounts included pro-Trump messages.
Investigators also compared images from the Capitol riot to Klete Keller’s Colorado driver’s license to identify him, the complaint states.
Keller faces charges of obstructing law enforcement engaged in official duties incident to civil disorder, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Jenny Cudd
A Texas woman accused of participating in the storming of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 pleaded not guilty Feb. 17 to five federal charges.
The judge also allowed Cudd to change her travel dates for a trip to Mexico for her and staff from her Midland business, Becky’s Flowers, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
She faces charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, entering a restricted building, disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
Cudd, a former Texas mayoral candidate, was arrested after video from the U.S. Capitol riot purportedly showed her incriminating herself.
Cudd was arrested after allegedly posting a video on social media bragging that she was part of a group that broke down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s door.
“We got up to the top of the Capitol and there was a door open and we went inside,” Cudd said in a Facebook video, according to federal investigators. “We did break down Nancy Pelosi’s office door and somebody stole her gavel and took a picture sitting in the chair flipping off the camera.”
Court documents say Cudd declared during a local news interview two days after the Capitol riot, “We the patriots did storm the U.S. Capitol … yes, I would absolutely do it again.”
Cudd later deleted the video and told The Associated Press she didn’t personally go into Pelosi’s office and didn’t do anything violent or destroy any property. She was charged with entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.
Cudd was not deemed a flight risk and allowed to travel to Mexico between court appearances.
Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson, the 36-year-old Florida man arrested after allegedly making off with a lectern belonging to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, was released Jan. 19 on his own recognizance pending his next court date, the Bradenton Herald reports.
A judge ordered during a remote hearing that day that Johnson is to “stay away from Washington D.C.” unless it is for court business. The stay-at-home father of five was not deemed a flight risk and won’t have to wear a GPS ankle monitor or submit to drug testing before his next hearing on April 19.
Johnson’s own lawyers said after a Jan. 11 hearing that the photograph of their client poses a “problem” in their case.
“I don’t know how else to explain that, but yeah that would be a problem,” attorney Dan Eckhart said. “I’m not a magician […] so yeah we’ve got a photograph of our client who appears to be inside the federal building with government property.”
Prosecutors say Johnson was one of the dozens of people who caused mayhem in the Jan. 6 riot. He faces three federal charges:
- One count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
- One count of theft of government property
- One count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Jacob Anthony Chansley
A federal judge in Washington has ruled Monday that an Arizona man who stormed the U.S. Capitol two months ago while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns will remain jailed until his trial.
Judge Royce Lamberth concluded Jacob Chansley’s willingness to resort to violence and refusal to follow police orders during the siege signal that he wouldn’t follow court-ordered conditions of release.
Lamberth said Chansley doesn’t fully appreciate the severity of the charges against him and found none of Chansley’s “many attempts to manipulate the evidence and minimize the seriousness of his actions” to be persuasive.
“I deeply regret and am very sorry I entered into the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. I should not have been there. Period,” Jacob Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, said in the statement Feb. 9.
Chansley made headlines while in jail after the self-described “QAnon Shaman” went on a hunger strike over the non-organic food in jail.
Attorney Al Watkins helped Chansley move to a facility where he could eat organic meals, filing an emergency motion after his client wasn’t eating due to his faith as a shaman.
Richard Barnett
Another man arrested in the Jan. 6 seige, 60-year-old Richard Barnett, was also ordered to remain behind bars during a hearing last week .
Barnett, who was photographed with his feet on a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, erupted during the judge’s ruling, saying that it was “not fair.”
“I’ve been here a long time,” Barnett said. “You’re letting everyone else out, I need help,” he yelled. His next court appearance is set for May 4.
Barnett, who faces numerous charges; has already been indicted on three counts:
- Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority
- Violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
- Theft of public money, property, or records
He also faces charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; aiding and abetting; and entering and remaining in certain rooms in a Capitol building.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
