Capitol rioter who wore a 'Camp Auschwitz' sweatshirt is identified

A rioter who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday wearing a ‘Camp Auschwitz’ sweatshirt has been identified as a former welder from Virginia with a criminal record for forgery. 

The identification comes amid a string of arrests of insurrectionists involved in the deadly riots at the The Capitol building which resulted in five deaths, including that of a Capitol police officer.  

Robert Keith Packer was identified by CNN as the man photographed wearing the ‘Camp Auschwitz’ sweatshirt at the riot, referencing the most infamous Nazi concentration camp, where about 1.1 million people were killed during World War II.

The sweatshirt featured skull and crossbones and appeared to read ‘work brings freedom’ – a translation of the German phrase on the camp’s gates; ‘Arbeit macht frei’.

A Virigina resident described Packer as having ‘extreme’ beliefs while another described him as an ‘off-beat’ character.

Packer, described as a former welder and pipe-fitter, has a criminal record for   driving under the influence and a felony conviction for forging public records. 

One of those pictured at the Capitol Wednesday wore a racist t-shirt which read 'Camp Auschwitz'. He has been identified as Robert Keith Packer

One of those pictured at the Capitol Wednesday wore a racist t-shirt which read ‘Camp Auschwitz’. He has been identified as Robert Keith Packer

Packer (left) was seen in footage taken from inside the Capitol building as it was stormed by pro-Trump rioters

Packer (left) was seen in footage taken from inside the Capitol building as it was stormed by pro-Trump rioters 

Dozens of people have already been arrested and prosecutors across the U.S. have vowed to bring to justice those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, sending lawmakers into hiding as they began their work to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

The group included white nationalists, neo-Nazis and QAnon conspiracy theorists, coming from states as far-flung as Arizona and Oregon, while photographs from the riot have shown people wearing clothes with a range of antisemitic messages.

The former wife of retired Lt. Col Larry Rendall Brock Jr., 53, called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center on Friday to report that she’d recognized her ex, who was pictured carrying plastic handcuffs and wearing full military gear, from the footage.

Brock has since been arrested slapped with federal charges, as was an Nashville bartender, 30, who attended Capitol riot with his mom and was also pictured carrying zip-ties and wearing full paramilitary gear. 

Eric Munchel, a Nashville bartender, 30, has been named as the man pictured in the Senate press gallery with a bundle of flex-cuffs, heavy duty restraints used by law enforcement in mass arrests on Wednesday. He attended the riot with his mother.

News of the pair’s arrests came on Sunday as Ryan McCarthy, Army Secretary, said that at least 25 domestic terrorist cases have been opened up following Wednesday’s assault on the Capitol. 

Both men are charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock Jr., 53, was among the violent mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday in a riot that left five including one police officer dead

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock Jr., 53, (at the riots) was among the violent mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday in a riot that left five including one police officer dead 

Eric Munchel has been named as the man pictured with a bundle of flex-cuffs

Eric Munchel has been named as the man pictured with a bundle of flex-cuffs

Further arrests have also been made. 

One Trump supporter, who allegedly told his friends that he wanted to shoot and run over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been arrested on federal charges stemming from the riot at the Capitol last week as authorities arrest an Alabama man with possessing 11 Molotov cocktails near the building.  

The Miami Herald reported that the man photographed standing at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern was named Adam Johnson from Parrish Florida. The 36-year-old father of five posted on Facebook that he was in Washington, and was later arrested on a Federal warrant.

Another man, widely photographed wearing face paint, a horned, fur hat and extensive tattoos in the Senate chamber and the Capitol’s corridors, was charged with counts including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

He has been named as self-styled ‘QAnnon shaman’ Jacob Anthony Chansley of Arizona, more commonly known as Jake Angeli. 

A 41-year-old Iowa man named Doug Jensen, who was seen in videos chasing a black police officer up a flight of stairs, was jailed early Sunday on federal charges including trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Richard Barnett (pictured), of Arkansas, who was photographed sitting at a desk in Pelosi's office was also arrested

Richard Barnett (pictured), of Arkansas, who was photographed sitting at a desk in Pelosi’s office was also arrested

Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man shown in a widely seen photo sitting in Pelosi's office with his boots on the desk. He is charged with crimes including theft of public money, property or records

Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man shown in a widely seen photo sitting in Pelosi’s office with his boots on the desk. He is charged with crimes including theft of public money, property or records

Jacob Anthony Chansley, the heavily-tattooed Trump supporter who sported horns, a fur hat and face paint as he occupied the Senate dais, was also arrested on Saturday

Jacob Anthony Chansley, the heavily-tattooed Trump supporter who sported horns, a fur hat and face paint as he occupied the Senate dais, was also arrested on Saturday

Defendants facing federal charges include Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man shown in a widely seen photo sitting in Pelosi’s office with his boots on the desk. Barnett is charged with crimes including theft of public money, property or records.

Another man being tried in federal court, Lonnie Coffman of Falkville, Alabama, was arrested after authorities say they found guns and 11 Molotov cocktail explosive devices made out of Mason jars, golf tees and cloth rags in his pickup truck. 

West Virginia lawmaker Derrick Evans – who posted videos showing himself pushing hi way into the Capitol building – was arrested on Friday by the FBI and charged with entering restricted federal property.

Evans resigned from his position in a letter to West Virginia governor Jim Justice, apologising for his involvement. In his own livestream, he was seen joining Trump supporters rushing into the building, shouting ‘Our house!’ 

Rendall Brock, a father-of-three who now lives in Dallas, was pictured on the Senate floor Wednesday after the group had broken through barricades, pushed back law enforcement and sent lawmakers fleeing for safety.    

Images show him wearing a combat helmet, body armor and a vinyl tag with the Punisher skull on – a symbol adopted by white supremacists and believers of conspiracy theory QAnon.

Johnson, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege

Johnson, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege

He carried zip-tie handcuffs and appeared to be speaking with fellow rioters, several of which were dressed in MAGA caps.  

Brock, who was in the Air Force for more than two decades and now works for an aviation company, was also seen in footage, shot by ITV News, appearing to exit Nancy Pelosi’s office – which was vandalized and looted in the chaos. 

‘It is alleged that Brock was identified as one of the individuals who unlawfully entered the US Capitol,’ a DoJ statement said.

Eric Munchel, 30, is pictured in his mugshot having been arrested in Nashville on Sunday

Eric Munchel, 30, is pictured in his mugshot having been arrested in Nashville on Sunday

It added he had been ‘wearing a green helmet, green tactical vest with patches, black and camo jacket, and beige pants holding a white flex cuff, which is used by law enforcement to restrain and/or detain subjects’.        

Bartender Munchel told The Times of London: ‘We wanted to show that we’re willing to rise up, band together and fight if necessary. Same as our forefathers, who established this country in 1776. It was a kind of flexing of muscles.’

His mother, Lisa Eisenhart, 57, said: ‘The left has everything: the media, organizations, the government. We have to organize if we’re going to fight back and be heard.’

The nurse, who wore a bullet proof vest like her son, added: ‘This country was founded on revolution. If they’re going to take every legitimate means from us, and we can’t even express ourselves on the internet, we won’t even be able to speak freely, what is America for?

‘I’d rather die as a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression. I’d rather die and would rather fight.’ 

The pair are said to have driven from Nashville, Tennessee for the protest.    

Brock, 53, has already admitted he invaded the Senate floor and roamed Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office dressed in combat gear and carrying zip-tie cuffs. 

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock, Jr., a 53-year-old Texas-based Air Force Academy graduate and combat veteran

Brock is pictured with his current wife Katya

Brock Jr., 53, (left, and pictured with his current wife Katya, right) was turned in by his ex-wife who called the FBI

But he told The New Yorker he thought he was welcome to enter the U.S. Capitol and claimed he ‘found’ the zip ties on the floor and merely picked them up so he could hand them in to a police officer. 

The FBI is said to be investigating whether any of Trump’s supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol were conspiring to hurt lawmakers or take them hostage. 

‘We’re not looking at this as a grand conspiracy, but we are interested in learning what people would do with things like zip ties,’ a law enforcement official told The Washington Post.

The FBI has asked for help in tracking down those responsible for ‘rioting and violence’ in the Capitol, with some of the mob already identified online. 

The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia has said ‘all options are on the table’ for charging the rioters, many of whom were egged on by President Donald Trump’s speech hours earlier at a rally over his election loss. 

Trump addressed his thousands of his supporters near the White House Wednesday at his ‘Save America’ rally and declared war on his own party, calling Republicans who opposed him ‘weak’

Investigators are combing through photos, videos and tips from the public to track down members of the violent mob.

A Capitol Police officer died after he was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher as rioters descended on the building and many other officers were injured. 

A woman from California was shot to death by Capitol Police and three other people died after medical emergencies during the chaos. 

The U.S. attorney’s office for D.C., which handles both local and federal cases in the district, had filed 17 cases in federal court and at least 40 others in the Superior Court by Saturday. 

The cases in Superior Court mainly have to do with things like curfew violations and gun crimes. 

Those being tried in federal court, where prosecutors can generally secure longer sentences, are charged with things like violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The pro-Trumper wearing a 'Camp Auschwitz' shirt, far left, has not been identified. The FBI are asking for helping in finding rioters

The pro-Trumper wearing a ‘Camp Auschwitz’ shirt, far left, has not been identified. The FBI are asking for helping in finding rioters

Prosecutors say these charges are just the beginning. Authorities said Friday that said additional cases remained under seal and dozens of other people were being sought by federal agents.

US attorneys in several states, including Kentucky, Ohio and Oregon, said people could face charges in their home states if they traveled to Washington and took part in the riot. 

Investigators will also consider whether there was any concerted plot targeting Vice President Mike Pence, who enraged Trump and his loyalists by refusing to illegally intervene in Congress to overthrow the election. 

Ryan McCarthy, the Army Secretary, on Sunday provided a detailed breakdown of events on Wednesday.

He said the Pentagon offered help, but was rebuffed by Capitol Police and by DC police.

‘DOD made several more attempts to offer National Guard resources to DC Metropolitan Police and USCP and repeatedly were told no additional resources needed,’ according to a memo.

The mostly maskless crowd flooded the halls of the Capitol with little resistance from police

The mostly maskless crowd flooded the halls of the Capitol with little resistance from police

Police try to hold back protesters pushing into a doorway at the Capitol on Wednesday

Police try to hold back protesters pushing into a doorway at the Capitol on Wednesday

The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf

The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to ‘fight’ on his behalf

He said that the Capitol Police and DC Police had seriously underestimated the crowd that Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ rally on Wednesday would draw, and expected the attendance to be in the ‘low thousands’.

McCarthy said that at least 25 domestic terrorism cases had been opened.

‘Long guns, molotov cocktails, explosive devices and zipties were recovered which suggests a greater disaster was narrowly averted,’ the memo, obtained by CNN, stated. 

As the attack unfolded, Trump took to Twitter to vent fury at Pence, a message that quickly spread among the president’s followers at the Capitol.  

TIMELINE OF TRUMP’S FINAL DAYS OF OFFICE

Jan 10 – Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I, a leader of the House effort to draft impeachment articles accusing Trump of inciting insurrection, reveals he has 200-plus co-sponsors. 

Jan 11 – Pelosi’s leadership team will seek a vote on a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence and Cabinet officials to invoke the 25th Amendment.

House Democrats are also expected to introduce articles of impeachment on Monday. 

Jan 12 – A full House vote is expected on the matter on Tuesday.

 Jan 13-  Pence and the Cabinet have until today to act. If not, the House would move forward with impeachment.

 Democrats plan to delay an impeachment trial for 100 days to allow Biden to focus on other priorities as soon as he is inaugurated.

Jan 20 – The inauguration; Trump leaves office and Joe Biden  becomes the 46th President of the Unites States

The protesters were riled up by Trump, Giuliani and Donald Trump Jr. during a rally near the White House and told to head to Capitol Hill where lawmakers were scheduled to confirm Biden’s presidential victory. 

A violent mob stormed the Capitol, breaking through police barricades and smashing windows to enter the building.

Lawmakers were forced to go into hiding for several hours as Capitol police grappled to take back control while the mob defecated in the Senate and House, invaded Nancy Pelosi’s office and looted items potentially including state secrets.  

One female Trump supporter, US Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot dead by Capitol Police as she tried to climb through a window. 

Three other Trump supporters died after ‘medical emergencies’ related to the breach and Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died Thursday from injuries sustained in the attack after the thug allegedly hit him over the head with a fire extinguisher.    

Democrats will proceed with the impeachment of ‘deranged, unhinged and dangerous’ Donald Trump this week unless Mike Pence uses the 25th Amendment to force him from office, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday night. 

Pelosi made the announcement in a letter to colleagues, framing it as an ultimatum to Pence to invoke the powers of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. 

If not, she said, the House would proceed with impeachment. 

Trump could become the only president to be impeached twice.

‘In protecting our Constitution and our Democracy, we will act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both,’ she said, and added: ‘The horror of the ongoing assault on our democracy perpetrated by this President is intensified and so is the immediate need for action.’

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told 60 Minutes on Sunday that she wants impeachment for Donald Trump so he can't run for office in the future

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told 60 Minutes on Sunday that she wants impeachment for Donald Trump so he can’t run for office in the future 

Rioters draped in Trump flags are pictured rampaging through Pelosi's office

Rioters draped in Trump flags are pictured rampaging through Pelosi’s office

Pelosi fought to contain her emotions as she told 60 Minutes how her staff cowered under desks in the dark for two hours, as a frenzied mob of Trump supporters smashed through her office.

‘I think there was, universally accepted, that what happened…’ she said, pausing to compose herself.

‘Was a terrible, terrible violation of what – of the Capitol, of the first branch of government, the legislative branch, by the president of the United States.’ 

source: dailymail.co.uk