Since last month, 16 individuals have been charged by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves in connection with the Capitol riot that occurred on January 6th, 2021.
The top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. has released his monthly update on the Capitol breach, and it includes an announcement that shows Graves is still actively pursuing those who may be responsible for the incident, even after more than three and a half years.
According to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office, charges were brought against 1,488 individuals, with the majority being accused of entering or staying on restricted federal property. Among those charged, a significant number were accused of assaulting a police officer or resisting law enforcement. A smaller group faced charges related to damaging or stealing federal property, or carrying a deadly weapon. In rare cases, individuals were charged with seditious conspiracy.
According to Graves’s office, over 1,000 defendants have either been convicted or pleaded guilty to charges and have received sentences. Out of these, 562 individuals were sentenced to prison, which accounts for more than half of the total number of convictions.
Graves has been keeping a close eye on the individuals impacted by the Supreme Court’s ruling in June, which limited the charges of obstruction against 259 defendants. This has been ongoing since last month.
In response to a challenge from former Pennsylvania police officer Joseph Fischer, who argued that government prosecutors had incorrectly applied the charge in his case, the decision was made.
In Fischer’s case, the Supreme Court did not provide any opinion on the case’s merits. However, the Department of Justice suffered a setback as the ruling clarified that obstructing an official proceeding charge necessitates some form of tampering with physical evidence.
The ruling has the potential to benefit numerous defendants who have already started to challenge their charges and sentences.
According to defense attorney Bill Shipley, some defendants, including those who have already served their sentences and had their cases fully adjudicated, may not find it beneficial to revisit the legal system, which he describes as a “meat grinder.”
Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman” and famous for wearing a horned helmet, is among the defendants facing charges. He pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding and has served a 41-month prison sentence. On Monday, Chansley won a small victory when a judge granted the return of his notorious helmet and spear, despite objections from prosecutors.
According to recent press statements from Graves’s office, individuals charged with obstructing an official proceeding have also been charged with at least one other felony or misdemeanor. The prosecutors will be reviewing each case individually to determine if obstruction charges should be dropped for any defendants.
According to a statement released by the U.S. attorney’s office, they will be examining each case based on the standards set forth in Fischer. They will also be closely monitoring the ongoing proceedings related to Fischer in the D.C. Circuit. Based on this review, the government will determine whether or not to move forward with the charge.