Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a new committee to investigate the events leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, and the federal response to that day.
“This morning, with great solemnity and sadness, I’m announcing that the House will be establishing a select committee on the Jan. 6 insurrection,” Pelosi said, “It is imperative that we seek the truth of what happened.”
Pelosi did not disclose who would lead the commission, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has privately pushed for Homeland Security Chair Bennie Thompson, who seems to be the caucus favorite with few other names circulating.
The select committee will consolidate the House’s ongoing investigations into Jan. 6, but it’s not clear how House Republican leaders will respond to Pelosi’s plans. The goal of the committee, is to keep its work from devolving into a hyper-partisan brawl.
“I hope that Kevin will appoint responsible people to the committee,” Pelosi said, referring to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Anna Morgan-Lloyd from Indiana who was with her hairdresser friend was put on probation in the first sentence stemming from the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The number of people arrested is approaching 500, but this was the first of what government officials said would be similar proceedings for the hundreds of people who face low-level charges.
Morgan-Lloyd pleaded guilty to a single charge of illegally demonstrating in the Capitol building, and the government dropped three other charges, all of them misdemeanors. She was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.
“I would just like to apologize to the court, the American people, and my family,” she said in brief remarks to Judge Royce Lamberth. “I went there to show support for President Trump peacefully, and I’m ashamed that it became a savage display of violence.”
An active-duty Marine was arrested for his role in the riots at the U.S. Capitol Building.
Major Christopher Warnagiris is the first active-duty member of the armed services to be charged in the insurrection attempt, as prosecutors say that Warnagiris was the first person to push his way through the doors and enter the Capitol Building.
The FBI released photos of Warnagiris inside the Capitol Building and he was charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, obstruction of law enforcement, obstruction of Congress, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds, and entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority.
He faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
The Marines issued a statement following the announcement of the charges.
"The Marine Corps is clear on this: There is no place for racial hatred or extremism in the Marine Corps. Our strength is derived from the individual excellence of every Marine regardless of background. Bigotry and racial extremism run contrary to our core values. Participation with hate or extremist groups of any kind is directly contradictory to the core values of honor, courage, and commitment that we stand for as Marines and isn't tolerated by the Marine Corps," the statement continued. "We expect every Marine to treat their fellow Marines with dignity and respect. Those who can't value the contributions of others, regardless of background, are destructive to our culture, our warfighting ability, and have no place in our ranks."
A Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged for participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol after his wife wrote Facebook posts about his involvement.
Gary Edwards is facing charges of entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and disruption of official business, as FBI investigators were able to identify Edwards after they received a tip that his wife, Lynn Feiler Edwards made.
"Gary walked around the back of the building and climbed the stairs walking right into the rotunda. He stood there and heard and saw teargas blasts. The police were right next to him as Gary poured water on their eyes," she wrote in one of the since-deleted posts.
She said that her husband was peaceful during the insurrection.
"Gary walked around carrying flags of the Us. Gary walked right through the door into the rotunda. Chatting with the police who were very calm. The people sang the Star spangled banner 2 time then started chanting whose house? Our house! When asked to leave they did."
Investigators confirmed Edwards' identity by photos from his wife's Facebook page and his driver's license. Federal officials have charged 414 people for their involvement in the riots at the Capitol.
"The investigation and prosecution of the Capitol Attack will likely be one of the largest in American history, both in terms of the number of defendants prosecuted and the nature and volume of the evidence," federal prosecutors said.
Prosecutors have gathered more than 15,000 hours of surveillance and body camera footage, 1,600 electronic devices, more than 210,000 tips, more than 80,000 reports and 93,000 attachments related to law enforcement interviews.
"As the Capitol Attack investigation is still on-going, the number of defendants charged and the volume of potentially discoverable materials will only continue to grow," prosecutors said in the Oath Keepers filing. "In short, even in cases involving a single defendant, the volume of discoverable materials is likely to be significant."
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