At least 25 domestic terrorism cases opened as result of deadly assault on US Capitol

Photos reportedly showed Eric Gavelek Munchel carrying plastic restraints

Credit: Getty

At least 25 domestic terrorism cases have been opened as a result of Wednesday’s deadly assault on the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, US Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told a Democratic lawmaker on Sunday.

The Justice Department also said two more men were arrested in connection with the rioting on Wednesday.

The department said in a statement that Larry Rendell Brock, of Texas, was arrested on Sunday and charged with one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on the grounds of the Capitol.

The government alleged Mr Brock was identified as one of the individuals who was pictured holding a white flex cuff, which is used by law enforcement to restrain subjects.

Eric Gavelek Munchel, of Tennessee, was also charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Photos show a person who appears to be Mr Munchel carrying plastic restraints, the government said.

Both men were seen in photos in the Senate chamber. It was not immediately clear if they had attorneys.

Representative Jason Crow, a member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said Mr McCarthy told him the Pentagon was aware of "further possible threats posed by would-be terrorists" in the days up to and including the inauguration of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20.

"Long guns, Molotov cocktails, explosive devices and zip ties were recovered, which suggests a greater disaster was narrowly averted," Mr Crow, a former Army Ranger, said in a summary of his call with Mr McCarthy.

Mr McCarthy assured him the Pentagon was working with local and federal law enforcement to coordinate security preparations after what he described as "deficient law enforcement threat reporting" ahead of last Wednesday.

A second Republican US senator called on Sunday for Mr Trump to resign, saying the outgoing president could face criminal liability after the storming of the Capitol by his supporters shortly after he baselessly challenged the results of the Nov. 3 election and exhorted them to "fight".

Five people died in the attack, including a police officer. A second police officer responding to the attack later died while off duty, but the cause has not been formally released.

Mr Crow said he raised grave concerns about reports that active-duty and reserve military members were involved in the assault, and urged Mr McCarthy to expedite investigations and courts-martial, and ensure no troops to be deployed on Jan. 20 were sympathetic to domestic militants.

McCarthy agreed to take "additional measures", Mr Crow said.