« The Capitol Attack is likely the most complex investigation ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, » the government said in a court filing.
America watched as hordes of rioters on January 6 — crushing through windows, pressing up stairways, and sending lawmakers and law enforcement running for their lives. The flood of protesters who streamed into the Capitol that day left federal authorities with an equally immense task: finding and charging those responsible. The Department of Justice told CBS News that as of May 6, approximately 440 defendants had been arrested since the attack. The government has said in court filings that in addition to the more than 400 people who had already been charged, federal prosecutors still expect to charge at least 100 more. Prosecutors have called the case « unprecedented » in scale, and the government said in a March court filing that the Capitol attack « is likely the most complex investigation ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. » As law enforcement continues to round up alleged rioters, here’s what CBS News has learned about those who were arrested: Around 440 defendants have been arrested in the federal investigation, the Justice Department said on May 6, and CBS News has reviewed court documents for 403 cases that have been unsealed. Of those, at least 172 defendants were also indicted by grand juries. At least 45 of those arrested are current or former military members. Of those, is an active duty service member, four are current part-time troops in the Army Reserve or National Guard, and 40 previously served in the military, according to military service records and court documents obtained by CBS News. At least 21 have served in the U.S. Marines,15 have served in the Army, two served in the Navy and two served in the Air Force. One defendant, Jeffrey McKellop, was a communications sergeant with the Army Special Forces, a group known colloquially as the Green Berets. The Army Reserve shared the following statement with CBS News: « The U.S. Army Reserve takes all allegations of Soldier or Army civilian involvement in extremist groups seriously and will address this issue in accordance with Army regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure due process. Extremist ideologies and activities directly oppose our values and beliefs and those who subscribe to extremism have no place in our ranks. » At least 10 of those arrested were either former police officers or were employed as law enforcement officers at the time of the riot, according to court documents and employment records. Prosecutors also charged one current firefighter and one retired firefighter. Of the five police officers employed at the time of the riot, four have since lost their jobs. An officer in North Cornwall Township, Pennsylvania, was suspended without pay after he was charged with, among other crimes, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.
