US Capitol riots: Facts and figures of charges, arrests made so far

The United States Capitol building, the top legislative arena of the country, was attacked exactly a year ago on January 6, 2021.

Massive protests broke outside the complex in Washington DC, which soon turned into a violent insurrection with the objective to overturn the results of the Presidential elections, won by Joe Biden from the Democratic party. 

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

The investigation into the violence is still on by a congressional committee. They have interviewed more than 300 witnesses and collected tens of thousands of important documents. A

Also Read | US Capitol attack: How events unfolded on January 6, 2021

The investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attack is moving forward. Based on the public court documents, a snapshot of the investigation as of December 30, 2021, has been provided by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Arrests

More than 725 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (This includes those charged in both District and Superior Court).  

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Criminal charges

At least 225 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding

Over 75 among them have been charged with using a dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer

Around ten people have been arrested on charges related to the assault of a media member or destroying their equipment

Approximately 640 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or area

More than 45 have been charged with destruction of government property

Over 30 defendants have been charged with theft of the property

At least 270 have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding or an attempt towards it

Around 40 individuals have been charged with conspiracy, either (a) conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding (b) to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder (c) to injure an officer (c) or a combination of allA

Also Read | How safe is US Capitol now?

Pleas

Nearly 165 among these people have pleaded guilty. 145 have pleaded guilty to misdemeanours, and twenty to felonies. 

Among the latter, six have pleaded to charges related to assaults on ljaw enforcement. Four face statutory maximums of 20 years or more in prison and potential financial penalties. while two others face a statutory maximum of eight years in prison and penalties. 

Sentencing

Further, approximately 70 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity. Thirty-one have been sentenced to periods of incarceration, 18 have been sentenced to a period of home detention, and the other defendants have been sentenced to probation with no term of incarceration.  

Meanwhile, the January 6 committee continues to investigate the violent insurrection and has gathered information on the events of the day. Multiple individuals — including top administration officials– have been in the crosshairs of the panel.