In the aftermath of an angry mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters storming the Capitol on January 6, jarring details about the insurgents (some of whom have already been identified) are coming to light in law enforcement’s ongoing criminal investigations. More than three dozen individuals who participated, or planned to participate, in the attack have been slapped with criminal charges.
Here are some alarming details in the court documents of those who were allegedly involved to trying to violently overthrow the government on Trump’s behalf:
One Person Allegedly Fantasized About Disrupting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Speech And “Putting A Bullet In Her Noggin”
A man named Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. allegedly traveled to D.C. for the “Stop the Steal” rally that preceded the riot and bragged in a text to an associate about bringing “a shit ton of 5.56 armor piercing ammo,” though he arrived too late to participate. An affidavit states that FBI discovered texts he sent on January 7 stating that he was “[t]hinking about heading over to Pelosi CUNT’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV” and that he was “gonna run that CUNT Pelosi over” with his truck “while she chews on her gums.”
Meredith has been charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
One Of The Men Carrying Zip Ties In The Senate Chamber Was Allegedly A Retired Air Force Officer
Another FBI complaint states that one of the two men in viral photos showing them carrying zip ties in the Senate chamber was identified as Lt. Col. Larry Rendall Brock Jr., a former Air Force officer, by his ex-wife.
“I just know that when I saw this was happening I was afraid he would be there. I think you already know he was there,” she said, according to the complaint.
One Of The Other Men Carrying Zip Ties Was Also Allegedly Carrying A Taser
A man named Eric Gavelek Munchel from Nashville, Tennessee, is alleged to be another person seen in photos carrying zip ties. An affidavit states that law enforcement found that Munchel was carrying a taser, which he allegedly claimed to possess for self-protection.
One Was Allegedly A GOP State Lawmaker
West Virginia House Delegate Derrick Evans (R) was among those who stormed the Capitol, according to one complaint, which cites a livestream video Evans had filmed in which he yells “We’re in, we’re in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!” as he and his cohorts barge into the Capitol building.
The lawmaker resigned on Saturday. “I take full responsibility for my actions, and deeply regret any hurt, pain or embarrassment I may have caused my family, friends, constituents and fellow West Virginians,” he said in his resignation letter.
One Was Allegedly Found With Nearly A Dozen Molotov Cocktails
The Justice Department charged Lonnie Coffman from Falkville, Alabama, with possessing 11 Molotov cocktails in his pickup truck, which was parked near the Capitol building. Law enforcement officials also discovered an M4 Carbine
assault rifle “along with rifle magazines loaded with ammunition” in the truck, the affidavit says, and they found Coffman allegedly carrying two handguns. None of the firearms in the truck or on his person were registered to him, according to the affidavit.
One Was Allegedly A CEO Who Donated More Than $25,000 To The Trump Campaign And GOP
Bradley Rukstales, a now-former CEO of a data analytics firm named Cogensia, was allegedly among those who were arrested inside the Capitol building after they “willfully refused the order to leave,” the complaint says. The Associated Press found that Rukstales had donated more than $25,000 to the Trump campaign and Republican committees.
Cognesia announced on Friday that the company’s board of directors had fired Ruststales in wake of his arrest.
“This decision was made because Rukstales’ actions were inconsistent with the core values of Cogensia,” acting CEO Joel Schiltz said in a statement. “Cogensia condemns what occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, and we intend to continue to embrace the values of integrity, diversity and transparency in our business operations, and expect all employees to embrace those values as well.”
