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Storm on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021
Photo: Mihoko Owada / STAR MAX / IPx
The committee of inquiry into the storming of the US Capitol in January expanded its investigation to include groups such as the "Proud Boys" and "Oath Keeper". Their then bosses Henry Tarrio and Elmer Rhodes should answer questions from the MPs, as the House Committee announced in Washington on Tuesday. In addition, the groups were asked to hand over internal documents. They have "relevant information about how the violence broke out at the Capitol," said committee chairman Bennie Thompson.
The public prosecutor's office has so far brought charges against at least 34 people associated with the "Proud Boys" for their involvement in the violent storming of the Capitol, it said. The same applies to at least 18 members of the "Oath Keeper" who traveled to Washington at the time "with paramilitary equipment and supplies". Another group ("1st Amendment Praetorian") and their boss Robert Lewis are now the target of the investigation.
The committee has already summoned numerous then advisors and employees of ex-President Donald Trump, most recently his longtime companion Roger Stone. The ultra-conservative radio host Alex Jones will also be available to answer questions from MPs, as the House Committee said on Monday. Jones, Stone and three other subpoenas are also expected to produce a number of documents.
Radical Trump supporters stormed the congress building when the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election on November 3, 2020 was to be certified.
Five people died during or on the verge of the violence, including a police officer and an attacker who was shot by the police.
Trump had to face impeachment proceedings for inciting his supporters in a speech.
He was acquitted.
According to the Justice Department, more than 570 people were arrested in the course of the far-reaching investigation into the storming of the Capitol.
More than 650 people were charged.
QAnon shaman has to go to jail
One of the most famous Capitol attackers, the self-proclaimed "QAnon Shaman", has to be jailed for 41 months.
A federal court ruled that last week.
The man from Phoenix, Arizona, had stormed the Capitol together with other supporters of the elected President Donald Trump.
Pictures of Chansley with a bare torso full of tattoos, a painted face, a fur hat with buffalo horns and a spear with a US flag went around the world.
The self-proclaimed "shaman" and supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory thus became one of the most famous Capitol attackers - and a face of the violence of January 6th.
muk / dpa
