1、CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i Federal Criminal Law: January 6, 2021, Unrest at the Capitol January 12, 2021 On January 6, 2021, a crowd gathered on the U.S. Capitol grounds, breached police barriers, entered the Capitol building, occu
2、pied portions of the building for an extended period of time, and clashed with law enforcement, resulting in at least five deaths, dozens of injuries, and damage to federal property. Multiple participants in the unrest allegedly carried firearms and used flag poles and other objects as weapons, and
3、explosive devices were discovered on or near the Capitol complex. Members of Congress and the Vice President, who were in the process of fulfilling their constitutional duty of counting the 2020 presidential election electoral votes, were forced to evacuate in response to the unrest. In its wake, ob
4、servers have speculated about the nature and scope of criminal charges that might be brought against a number of the individuals involved. Indeed, the first charges have already been filed in federal and D.C. Superior Court. That said, investigations are ongoing and additional charges are expected.
