Profiles of the Capitol rioters

     "JEREMY says 'Just made it into the Capitol here. Oh yeah, oh yeah. It gets no better than this. Freedom. God bless America.'”

            Criminal Complaint, U.S. District Court

Six Oregon men were among those arrested for being inside the Capitol on January 6.

The six are among the 705 people whose cases are reported within a data set of public information: https://seditiontracker.com  To see suspects organized by state click https://seditiontracker.com/suspects/by_state

Identified as Jeremy Grace

The site displays a mug shot or photos within the Capitol, a several-page criminal complaint, plus any motions filed by the prosecution or defense relating to bail. The criminal compaint is authored by the law enforcement person who observed the defendant in the Capitol or who examined the photographic and telephone records surrounding events that day.

Jeremy Grace: White Power gesture

The criminal complaints are formal and deadpan. They outline evidence that the defendant was illegally in the Capitol and the multiple offenses that act involves: Trespass, destruction of property, assault. The complaints put the actions into a broader context. The January 6 riot was not frat-pledge high jinkshi-jinx or random vandalism. The rioters were there intentionally disrupting an act of Congress.

The complaints summarize like this:

Based on the foregoing, your affiant submits that there is probable cause to believe that HUBBARD violated 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) and (2), which makes it a crime to (1) knowingly enter or remain in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do; and (2) knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions; or attempts or conspires to do so.

The drama in this data set comes from the deadpan description of the events surrounding each defendant's actions. The complaints describe the method of identification of the defendant by a unique hat or scarf or sometimes a bare-faced photograph, descriptions of throwing a bicycle rack or barricade or some other act of violence, and what the defendant might have said or texted.  This is from the indictment document for Richard Harris who was living out of his car, but if given bail would return to his father's home in Happy Valley, Oregon

A still photograph (from a video) clearly shows Defendant, unmasked and with his arm upraised, addressing a masked, uniformed police officer. The Government proffered that Defendant told the officer that the police were outnumbered, that there are “a f***ing million of us out there,” and that they were “listening to Trump.” . . . 

Aware that he was being filmed, Defendant then spoke into the phone, asking where Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was, adding, “We’re coming for you, you b***h!” He also asked where Vice President Mike Pence was, stating, “We’re coming for you too, you f***ing traitor!” 

Two brothers, Jonathanpeter Klein, age 21, and Matthew Klein, age 24, had long records of involvement in Proud Boy activities. They were already in law enforcement's attention from their attacks on the Oregon Capitol. The Complaint included:

31. J. KLEIN entered the Capitol Rotunda. While there, J. KLEIN engaged in another celebratory exchange with PERSON 1 during which J. KLEIN greeted PERSON 1 by declaring, “proud of your f***ing boy!”

32. J. KLEIN and M. KLEIN exited the Capitol. After exiting the Capitol, J. KLEIN and M. KLEIN worked in coordination to forcibly open a secured door on the Capitol’s north side. Federal law enforcement officers were visible on the other side of the door while J. KLEIN and M. KLEIN took this action. 

Like the other complaints, it concluded that their various acts were part of a broader conspiracy "to impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions."

Identified as Richard Harris

I invite readers to follow the links and peruse the record. For myself, I perceive:

---These defendants were caught up in a movement, and then on the afternoon of January 6, a moment. They were believers in Trump and the Stop the Steal goal. January 6 in the Capitol was a period of excitement in transgression and hope. A universal quality to the texts and quotations by people in the Capitol was thrill. 

Identified as Reed Christianson

---These defendants were willing, enthusiastic pawns in Trump's bigger wish to overturn the election, but they were not disciplined soldiers in that effort. They were on their own, having fun, part of a rowdy crowd with no direction or leadership.

---They were dangerous, but they didn't think of themselves as criminals. They were proud of themselves, which is why they took selfies and called their friends while the riot was taking place.