So, four months later, is there any proof to back up the pervasive claim that Jan. 6 was an “armed insurrection?” After all, investigators now have a massive trove of video and social media posts to document what happened on the day; by now, clips of Trump insurrectionists carrying guns or braggadocious comments on Facebook should prove beyond a doubt that an “armed insurrection” indeed nearly toppled the U.S. government that day.
But another review of the more than 400 people currently charged in the Justice Department’s nationwide manhunt still fails to support the initial account that hundreds of armed Trump supporters seized the Capitol with intent to maim, kill, or capture the building. A total of 44 defendants, roughly 10 percent of those facing any sort of prosecution related to Jan. 6, stand accused of either possessing or using a dangerous weapon. Here is the breakdown as of May 1:
Nine people with pepper spray;
Nine people with a pole or flagpole;
Four people with a riot or police shield;
Four people with a small baton;
Three people with a stick;
Three people with a baseball bat;
Two people with a taser;
Two people with a fire extinguisher;
Two people with a crutch;
One person with a stun gun/walking stick;
One person with a police helmet;
One person with a knife;
One person with a hockey stick;
One person with an ice ax.
Two people with crutches! Tiny Tim is a threat!