Update at 5:30pm:
(AP) – The prosecutor leading the investigation into the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week says authorities have no direct evidence that the rioters were plotting to assassinate officials.
The comments from acting District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin on Friday come after prosecutors said in court papers filed in the case against one of the rioters that there was strong evidence that the mob intended to “capture and assassinate elected officials.”
Sherwin backed away from that claim, telling reporters that authorities have “no direct evidence at this point of kill, capture teams.”
Original Story:
PHOENIX (AP) – The mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol aimed to “capture and assassinate elected officials,” federal prosecutors said in court documents.
The remarks came in a motion prosecutors filed late Thursday in the case against Jacob Chansley. He is the Arizona man who took part in the attack while sporting face paint, no shirt and a furry hat with horns.
Prosecutors say that after Chansley climbed up to the dais where Vice President Mike Pence had been presiding moments earlier, Chansley wrote a threatening note to Pence.
They said the note read: “It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming.” A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday.
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