The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating an unprecedented number of cases and range of criminal conduct after last week s deadly riot at the US Capitol, officials said Tuesday.
Investigators are focusing on significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy, Michael Sherwin, the acting US attorney in Washington, DC, said at a news conference. He added that prosecutors were looking into cases involving weapons and destructive devices and cases that involved attacks on law-enforcement officials and journalists.
Steve D Antuono, the assistant director in charge of the bureau s field office in Washington, DC, said the office had opened over 160 case files. That s just the tip of the iceberg, he said, adding that agents had received over 100,000 pieces of digital media and were scouring every one for investigative and intelligence leads.
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: So this is the question. Can Donald Trump hang on for the final 11 days of his presidency until Joe Biden is sworn in?
I m Lulu Garcia-Navarro.
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GARCIA-NAVARRO: Joe Biden didn t call for a second impeachment, but he did say this about the outgoing president.
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JOE BIDEN: He s exceeded even my worst notions about him. He s been embarrassment to the country.
SIMON: Meanwhile, hundreds of law enforcement officials are trying to identify and arrest the rioters who laid siege to the U.S. Capitol this week.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: And with COVID-19 numbers surging, the president-elect wants to accelerate the shipment of vaccine doses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Police Department warned the U.S. Capitol Police about the possibility of violent riots ahead of the Jan. 6 seizure of Capitol Hill, according to senior law enforcement officials.