Prosecutors say Chansley has expressed his intention to return to Washington for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden – and that his pending criminal case is unlikely to be a deterrent.
“Chansley told the FBI before the arrest that he ‘would still go, you better believe it,'” prosecutors said in the 18-page submission. “His status as a symbol of the uprising, his actions inside the Capitol building and his demonstrated disregard for orders while inside with the intent to disrupt official congressional proceedings show the danger his release would entail.”
“At this moment in the history of our country,” they continued, “it is difficult to imagine a greater risk to our democracy and community than the armed revolution of which Chansley made himself the symbol.”
Chansley was indicted by a grand jury in Washington on Monday on six charges, including two offenses: obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and obstruction of a congressional process. The other charges are violations, although the indictment at one point alleges that Chansley was “trying to prevent the Electoral College’s votes from being certified.”
Although the submission focuses on Chansley, it also speaks to the government’s view of an ongoing ‘insurgency’ that reaches a potential peak as Biden’s inauguration approaches. The filing cites media and FBI reports outlining planned armed protests in all 50 capitals and Washington DC ahead of Inauguration Day.
Although the government now describes Chansley’s involvement in the Capitol riots last week as part of a broad and sinister government’s overthrow attempt, he is not charged with the most serious crimes related to such an attempt – such as riots or uprising. But FBI and Justice Department officials have stressed that more serious charges are imminent, after an initial round of smaller charges were issued to ensure they compare some of the most dangerous offenders.
While prosecutors recommend that Chansley be detained pending trial, the court’s agency recommends that he be released on parole for his moves to reduce the chance that he will pose a threat while on his day off. the court waits. But the government said evidence he discovered made the recommendation untenable.
“The media and FBI reports outlined detailed, thoroughly planned resurrection efforts in the coming weeks in every capital city, including the capital of Arizona,” prosecutors said. “As he admitted, and confirmed by the items in his car, Chansley expected to go there after his FBI interview (if he was not arrested).”
The government also described Chansley’s release as “extremely risky” because of his commitment to Qanon, which he called a “dangerous conspiracy against the government” that treated him as a leader, which helped network travel ‘and’ fast fundraising by unconventional means. Prosecutors also note that he is a ‘repeat drug user’ who ‘cannot appreciate reality’.
A federal magistrate’s judge in Phoenix is holding a bail hearing for Chansley on Friday afternoon.