Justice Department Gives 10-Month Update On January 6 Investigations

Saturday, Nov. 6, marked 10 months since the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming the presidential election results.

The government continues investigations into losses that resulted from the breach of the Capitol, including damage to the Capitol building and grounds, both inside and outside the building.

According to a May 2021 estimate by the Architect of the Capitol, the attack caused approximately $1.5 million worth of damage to the U.S. Capitol building.

The investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attack continue to move forward at an unprecedented speed and scale. The Department of Justice says their “resolve to hold accountable those who committed crimes on Jan. 6 has not, and will not, wane.”

Below is a snapshot of the investigation as of Saturday, Nov. 6.

Arrests made: Approximately 675 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states (this includes those charged in both District and Superior Court).

Criminal charges:

• At least 210 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including over 65 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.
  • Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted Jan. 6 at the Capitol including about 80 U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department.
• Approximately 10 individuals have been arrested on a series of charges that relate to assaulting a member of the media, or destroying their equipment, on Jan. 6.
• Over 600 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds.
  • Over 65 defendants have been charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.
  • Approximately 45 defendants have been charged with destruction of government property, and over 30 defendants have been charged with theft of government property.
• At least 265 defendants have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, or attempting to do so.
• Approximately 40 defendants have been charged with conspiracy, either: (a) conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, (b) conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder, (c) conspiracy to injure an officer, or (d) some combination of the three.

Pleas:

• More than 120 individuals have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, from misdemeanors to felony obstruction, many of whom will face incarceration at sentencing.
  • More than 105 have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Sixteen have pleaded guilty to felonies.
  • Four of those who have pleaded guilty to felonies have pleaded to charges related to assaults on law enforcement. All face statutory maximums of 20 years or more in prison as well as potential financial penalties.

Sentencings:

• Twenty-eight federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on Jan. 6. Eleven have been sentenced to periods of incarceration.

J. Williams

J. Williams (Jimmy Williams) is the editor of Poli Alert, where he leads coverage of Congress, the White House, the courts and the elections shaping communities across the country. A graduate of Coppin State University in Maryland, he has spent years as a writer and social media manager for multiple outlets. His focus is breaking political news down in plain language so readers know exactly what is happening and how it affects them. Reach him at [email protected].

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