COLUMBUS (WCMH) — The United States Attorney for the southern half of Ohio said that he will prosecute any person from the area who may have committed crimes during the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
David DeVillers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, issued the statement on social media, writing, “Make no mistake… Federal crimes were committed today at our nation’s Capital building. Anyone who traveled from the Southern District of Ohio with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the Southern District of Ohio.”
In a press release Thursday, DeVillers reiterated his commitment to prosecution.
“We are in continual contact with the FBI and they are actively investigating,” DeVillers said in the release. “There is no set timeframe for investigations to conclude.”
His office asks people in the Southern District of Ohio with information related to crimes at the Capitol to contact the FBI office in Cincinnati at 513-421-4310 or report at fbi.gov/uscapitol.
DeVillers press release listed federal laws that were potentially broken:
- “18 United States Code section 231 – Civil Disorder, which prohibits adversely affecting any federally protected function or obstructing any law enforcement officer from the performance of official duties, punishable by up to five years in prison.
- 18 United States Code section 2101 – The Federal Riot Act, which applies to anyone who traveled interstate to incite, promote, or participate in a riot. This includes anyone who aided or abetted individuals who carried on a riot or committed a violent crime in furtherance of a riot. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison.
- 18 United States Code section 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection. This law states that whoever incites, assists or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the United States faces up to 10 years in prison.”
Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a chaotic protest aimed at disrupting the counting of Electoral College votes after Trump lost re-election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Lawmakers, including Vice President Mike Pence, had to be rushed from the Capitol, interrupting challenges to the vote-counting.