FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – A retired Air Force officer who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week has a plastic handcuff with zippers because he was planning to ‘take hostages’,’ a prosecutor said Thursday in a Texas court.
“He meant to take hostages. He intended to kidnap members of the U.S. government, to restrain them, perhaps to try to execute them, “said U.S. Assistant Attorney Jay Weimer about retired Lt. Col. Larry Rendall Brock jr., Without providing details.
Prosecutors argued that Brock should be detained, but Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would release Brock. Cureton ordered Brock to surrender firearms and said he could only access the internet as conditions for his release.
“I have to put you on a very short rope,” Cureton said. “These are strange times for our country and the concerns raised by the government do not fall on deaf ears.”
Brock appears in court in a light green jumpsuit, a mask and with handcuffs on his hands and feet.
Weimer did not set out a specific plan for Brock, but noted that “his previous experience and training made him all the more dangerous.”
He also read Brock’s social media messages in court, including one posted in the Capitol on the day of the riot, saying: ‘Patriots on the Capitol. Patriot storm. Men with guns have to shoot their way. ”
Brock was arrested Sunday in Texas after being photographed on the floor of the Senate during the deadly riot, with a helmet and a heavy vest and with a plastic handcuff with zipper. The 53-year-old is charged with knowingly entering a restricted building or site without legal authority, and violent trespassing and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Brock’s attorney, Brook Antonio II, noted that Brock was only charged with offenses. Antonio said there was no direct evidence that Brock broke doors or windows to get into the Capitol, or did anything violent when he was inside.
“It’s all talk. It’s all speculation and suspicion, ”said Antonio, who noted Brock’s years of military service, including being reactivated after 9/11 and his four tours in Afghanistan.
Weimer said Brock is likely to face additional charges.
More than a hundred people have been arrested in the riot on Capitol, with charges ranging from violating curfews to serious federal crimes related to theft and possession of weapons.
The FBI investigated or some of the rioters planned to kidnap members of Congress and hold them hostage.
Before his arrest, Brock told The New Yorker magazine that he found the zippers on the floor and that he planned to give them to a police officer.
“I wish I hadn’t picked it up,” he said.
No evidence was presented that Brock had a firearm on the day of the riot in Capitol.
Antonio asks an FBI agent who testifies if it is possible that Brock just picked up the handcuffs, and the agent admits that this is a possibility.
Weimer reads a letter of resignation from Brock’s former employer who says that he spoke in the workplace about the murder of people of a ‘certain religion and / or race’. Weimer also reads social media posts in which Brock refers to an upcoming civil war and the election stolen from President Donald Trump.
Weimer said Brock’s posts also refer to the far-right and anti-government oath-takers and the three percent, a loose anti-government network that is part of the militia movement. The Oathkeepers claim to count thousands of current and former law enforcement officials and military veterans as members.
However, the FBI agent testified that there was no evidence outside of the social media messages that Brock was involved with any of the groups.
Judges across the country, including some nominated by Trump, have repeatedly dismissed cases that dispute the election results, and Attorney General William Barr said there was no sign of widespread fraud.
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Associated Press author Jamie Stengle contributed to this Dallas report.