The mob that terrorized the U.S. Capitol last week was so brazen that the vast majority of the intruders didn’t bother to cover their faces during their deadly attack. Many even posted videos and images of themselves on social media ransacking offices, destroying property and assaulting police.
For whatever reasons — perhaps an outsized sense of white privilege, perhaps confidence that President Donald Trump would absolve them, perhaps just plain stupidity — they felt they could do whatever they wanted and face no consequences.
Wrong.
As it turns out, federal authorities are working diligently to track them down wherever they may be and bring them to justice.
For that, credit goes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Transportation Safety Administration, other state and local authorities and an army of volunteer internet sleuths trying to identify the insurrectionists. These authorities and their civilian helpers are dutifully upholding the law and keeping the nation safe from these violent individuals. Using footage from video surveillance cameras in and around the Capitol, as well as social media images from the violent rampage Jan. 6, officials have begun identifying the intruders and arresting them in locations scattered across the country. That includes in airports and on airliners, where those who stormed the Capitol have been located and taken into custody after having their IDs checked.
On Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on the TSA to place everyone invading the Capitol on the official No Fly List.
News reports that day indicated that at least 20 federal criminal defendants had been arrested across the country, with more to come. The mob, some of whom were heavily disguised, apparently didn’t realize that there are many investigative ways of identifying who was in the building during the attack.
In the aftermath of the terrible attack, it’s reassuring to see this nationwide effort by authorities. Trump and his insurrectionists tried, but they couldn’t co-opt law and order in America.
By now, millions of Twitter users have seen the results of the authorities’ efforts — viral videos of suspects being removed from planes and arrested on concourses.
And it’s no wonder why these videos have become a sensation: It’s satisfying to see these individuals be held accountable for their insurrectionist rampage.
In some cases, their outraged reactions offer yet more proof that they thought they were completely above the law. They simply can’t believe they’re having to face consequences for their actions. They seem to think they could beat innocent people, kill law enforcement, intimidate and terrorize at will. Some clearly intended outright murder of lawmakers.
That’s certainly in line with reports of the mob’s behavior, as security forces were accused of being “traitors” and attacked with pipes, chemical irritants and other weapons. Someone took the time to erect a gallows special-made for the event and somehow transported it to the Capitol, while others planted pipe bombs to distract law enforcement from the roving mob hunting for senators and House members. Some hunted the vice president while chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” while others looked for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who they threatened to assassinate on the spot.
Several reporters circulating among the crowd noted a common theme: The insurrectionists expected police to cooperate with them in taking over the seat of government, and were shocked when most of the officers instead upheld their duty to maintain law and order. Alarmingly, as many as 15 Capitol police are, in fact, being investigated for helping the seditionists — including one accused of giving the mob directions to congressional offices. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement saved the Capitol and prevented a massive loss of life had Trump’s mob gotten to the lawmakers.
“They’re shooting at us. They’re supposed to shoot BLM, but they’re shooting the patriots,” wrote a reporter in The Nation, quoting an unidentified member of the crowd.
Let’s be abundantly clear: The patriots here were wearing law enforcement uniforms, not traipsing around with Confederate flags and zip-tie handcuffs in search of people to kidnap, harm or kill.
We have a long road ahead and there will be many sad days as America learns just how deep, wide and vile the efforts went to undermine our nation by Trump’s mob. More active threats are being uncovered as of this writing. Given some of the targeted threats against lawmakers, it is possible we’re witnessing the emergence of underground Latin American-style death squads devoted to Trump. Law enforcement must diligently root these people out and bring them to justice.