WASHINGTON — The numberof people facing federal charges in connection with the breach on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 continues to grow.
A pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol as congress was certifying the election of Joe Biden, Jr. to be the next president on the United States.
It took about an hour from the time rioters arrived at the Capitol to breach all police barricades and overtake the legislative building.
The Capitol was placed on lockdown, police ordered evacuations, and the certification of Electoral College votes, which had just begun minutes before rioters broke in, was delayed.
It was around 2:00 p.m. when the gates on the east and west sides of the Capitol were breached. On the east side, there were about 10 U.S. Capitol Police officers that kept the chanting crowd at bay at the bottom of the steps. For four minutes, that's where they stayed, until they were joined by more U.S. Capitol Police officers, some in full riot gear.
One of the people believed to be involved in the beating of a Capitol police officer with an American flag pole has been arrested. Peter Stager of Arkansas was charged with Civil Disorder.
Click here to see the list of those charged in connection with riots at the U.S. Capitol.
Most of the charges involve unlawful entry of a restricted building; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
On a conference call on Jan. 15, the Department of Justice said that there are 275 open investigations, with that number expected to grow to over 300 by the end of the day and more next week.
One of the Alabama suspects, Lonnie Coffman of Falkville, AL, faces federal weapons charges. The other, Joshua Matthew Black of Leeds, AL, is charged with Entering restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct.