Editor’s note: This story includes explicit language.
Nearly every day since insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, the list of those charged in the attack has grown longer. The government has now identified more than 200 people for their alleged role in the Jan. 6 rioting, which ended with five people dead, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer.
As Congress considers a presidential impeachment related to the attack, those criminal cases provide clues to questions surrounding the incident: Who exactly joined the mob? What did they do? And why?
To try to answer those questions, NPR is examining the criminal cases related to the Capitol riot, drawing on court documents, public records, news accounts and social media.
Jump to our database of individuals charged
A group this large defies generalization. The defendants are predominantly white and male, though there were exceptions. Federal prosecutors say a former member of the Latin Kings gang joined the mob, as did two Virginia police officers. A man in a “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt took part, as did a Messianic Rabbi. Far-right militia members decked out in tactical gear rioted next to a county commissioner, a New York City sanitation worker, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Still, NPR’s examination did identify certain commonalities.
Extremist or fringe groups
Military or law enforcement ties
Incitement by Trump
A spectrum of charges
The Capitol Charges
The database on NPR includes federal and D.C. criminal charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The charges were last updated on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021.
Authors:
TOM DREISBACHTwitter
DINA TEMPLE-RASTONTwitter
AREZOU REZVANITwitter
MONIKA EVSTATIEVATwitter
MEG ANDERSON
BARBARA VAN WOERKOMTwitter
AUSTIN FASTTwitter
EMINE YÜCEL
CONNIE HANZHANG JINTwitter
