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One of the men photographed carrying zip-tie handcuffs on the Senate floor unmasked as a decorated Air Force veteran. My latest for @newyorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-air-force-combat-veteran-breached-the-senate
The man’s name, disclosed for the first time in this story, is Larry Rendell Brock Jr., a retired Lt Colonel.
Family members said that Brock had become increasingly radical in recent years, and that they believed racist views may have motivated him (which Brock denied).
Brock claimed that he had not witnessed any violence and that he wore tactical gear to protect himself from “BLM and Antifa.”
Legal experts said his behavior may have broken the law regardless.
Crowd-sourced efforts to identify people who breached the Capitol, by experts including @jsrailton (who referred Brock’s name to the FBI) and @Michael1Sheldon, as well as people without formal training, are ongoing.
Less than 48 hours after this story ran, Brock was arrested in Texas and charged in federal court. The case will be prosecuted by @USAO_DC’s Counterterrorism Section and @TheJusticeDept’s National Security Division. Statements from @USAO_DC and @prerakshah_TX below.
