FBI Gets 100,000 Tips As Justice Department Looks For At Least 170 Suspects In Capitol Riots

As the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue a nationwide hunt for more than 170 suspects accused of attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, the FBI says it has received more than 100,000 public tips.

Michael Sherwin, interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, said at a press conference on Tuesday that 70 individuals already face charges and that over weeks and months that number could grow.

.@nytimes: Justice Dept. Pursues at Least 150 Suspects in Capitol Riot https://t.co/wh0PVoMgI8

— John Regier (@jrregier) January 12, 2021

RELATED: Forbes Warns Companies Not To Hire Trump Associates Or They’ll Assume Everything The Company Says Is A Lie

New York Times: Attack Could Have Ties To ‘Domestic Terrorist Organizations’

According to the New York Times, the attack could have ties to “domestic terrorist organizations” or “foreign adversaries.” 

“In the sprawling Justice Department criminal inquiry run out of the F.B.I.’s Washington field office — the country’s second largest, with about 1,600 employees — agents and support staff have established a nationwide dragnet to identify members of the mob,” the Times reported.

The Times’ continued, “At least five people died during the attack and in its immediate aftermath, including a police officer.”

“In particular, the F.B.I. is working closely with the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington to track down those whose attacked law enforcement,” the Times noted.

Acting U.S. Attorney For D.C. Michael Sherwin: “We’re looking at significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy.” pic.twitter.com/M9CGlIvj8m

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 12, 2021

Sherwin Hasn’t Ruled Out Indicting President Trump

Sherwin isn’t just looking at the individuals who stormed the Capitol. 

Last week, The Political Insider noted that Sherwin assured reporters in a press call that he would investigate and charge “all actors” involved.

That could include President Donald Trump. 

Journalists pressed Sherwin about Trump’s speech and what motivating factor it may have been in inciting supporters to storm the Capitol later in the day.

…

“I’m going to stand by my earlier statement – we’re looking at all actors here, and anyone that had a role and the evidence fits the elements of a crime, they’re going to be charged.”

FBI Receives Over 100,000 Tips From The Public

The Times then noted that the FBI had received more than 100,000 tips from the public.

“The F.B.I. has moved quickly to ease some bureaucratic hurdles to making arrests, and it has received more than [100,000] photographic and video tips after asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects,” the paper noted.

The report continued, “Agents were also scrubbing airline passenger manifests and video of air travelers to and from Washington to find potential suspects.”

But could this approach from federal law enforcement come with problems?

‘Just the tip of the iceberg’: FBI and DOJ promise to charge ‘hundreds’ over Capitol riot https://t.co/HA49fBOIBo pic.twitter.com/fFDheEkHt6

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) January 12, 2021

RELATED: Dem Congressman Thompson Announces Investigation, Wants Cruz And Hawley On No-Fly List

The Times reported, “But some prosecutors have expressed concerns that the Justice Department is creating a bottleneck by funneling prosecutions through Washington.”

“The lack of public appearances by top national security officials in the Trump administration has also prompted criticism that the federal government is failing to provide the reassurance, information or leadership that it typically would in a time of national crisis,” the report said.

According to the paper, President Donald Trump’s election fraud claims were supported by “a broad coalition of conservatives, evangelicals, conspiracy theorists, militia groups, anti-Communist activists, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists.”

Based on how things have unfolded since the Capitol Hill attack, it is likely that law enforcement will continue to emphasize domestic terrorism as an enduring threat.