As if witnessing the storming of the Capitol was not traumatic enough revelations of ongoing investigations and the magnitude of the possibilities of what could have happened are bound to send shivers up your spine whether you are American or not. Federal documents charging Lonnie Leroy Coffman of Falkville, Alabama, with federal offences reveal that a pickup truck packed with 11 homemade bombs, an assault rifle and a handgun was found two blocks from the US Capitol building on Wednesday.
According to CNN, “Friday’s sworn statement from police provides some of the most extreme allegations yet about the amount of danger around the Capitol building on Wednesday.” Coffman has been arrested and charged. When he was found he was carrying a 9mm handgun and a .22-caliber handgun in each of his front pockets. None of the weapons found on his person or in his truck were registered to him.
Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. arrived in Washington a day earlier with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and an assault rifle. He sent texts to his acquaintances stating that he wanted to shoot or run over Pelosi. Meredith and Coffman are not the only persons charged in the insurrection. Based on the statement of Steven D’Antuono, Assistant Director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, others will have charges laid against them as well.
D’Antuono has said, “Just because you’ve left the DC region you can still expect a knock on the door if we find out you were part of the criminal activity at the Capitol. The FBI is not sparing any resources in this investigation,” he said, noting that agents from all 56 field offices are involved in the investigation combing through videos, social media posts and tips from the public.”
The ensuing days to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will no doubt be tense. Reports are that social media platforms are abuzz with activity as extremist are calling for action before inauguration day. Plans have started to increase the security of the capitol; 62 000 national guards have arrived in DC.
