A retired Air Force officer who was part of it stormed the Capitol worn last week plastic handcuffs with zipper because he planned to “take hostages,” a prosecutor said in a Texas court on Thursday.
“He wants to take hostages. He wants to kidnap, restrain, maybe try, maybe execute,” Assistant Attorney Jay Weimer said of retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock Jr. He did not provide details.
The prosecutor had argued that Brock should be detained, but Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would release Brock to house arrest. Cureton ordered Brock to hand over all firearms, saying he could only have limited Internet access as conditions for that release.
GrapevineTexas Police Department via AP
“I have to tie you to a very short rope,” Cureton said. “These are strange times for our country and the government’s concerns have not fallen on deaf ears.”
Brock appeared in court in a light green jumpsuit, a mask and with chains on his hands and feet.
Weimer did not elaborate on Brock’s specific plan, but noted that “his previous experience and training make him all the more dangerous.”
He also read in court social media posts from Brock, including a post on the day of the Capitol riot saying, “Patriots on the Capitol. Patriots storm. Men with guns must shoot in.”
Brock was arrested in Texas on Sunday after being photographed during the deadly riot on the Senate floor wearing a helmet and heavy vest and plastic zippered handcuffs. The 53-year-old is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a confined building or property without legal authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Brock’s attorney, Brook Antonio II, noted that Brock has only been charged with felonies. Antonio said there was no direct evidence that Brock broke doors or windows to enter the Capitol, or did anything violent once inside.
“It’s all talk. It’s all speculation and conjecture,” said Antonio, noting that Brock has been in the military for a long time, including his reactivation after 9/11 and his four tours in Afghanistan.
Weimer said Brock will likely face additional costs.
More than 100 people have been arrested during the Capitol riot, with charges ranging from curfew violations to serious federal crimes related to theft and possession of weapons.
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The FBI has investigated whether some rioters planned to kidnap members of Congress and take them hostage.
Before being arrested, Brock told The New Yorker magazine that he found the zippered cuffs on the floor and that he planned to give them to a police officer.
“I wish I hadn’t picked it up,” he said.
There was no evidence that Brock had a firearm on the day of the Capitol uprising.
Antonio asked an FBI agent to testify if it was possible that Brock had just taken the chains, and the agent acknowledged that it was possible.
Weimer read a letter of resignation from Brock’s former employer stating that he had spoken in the workplace about killing people of “certain religion and / or race.” Weimer also read social media posts referring to an upcoming civil war and the election being stolen from President Donald Trump.
Weimer said Brock’s posts also referred to the far-right and anti-government Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters, a loose anti-government network that is part of the militia movement. The Oath Keepers claim to include thousands of current and former law enforcement officers and military veterans.
However, the FBI agent stated that outside of the social media posts, there was no evidence that Brock was involved in any of these groups.
Judges across the country, including some nominated by Trump, have repeatedly dismissed cases challenging the election results, and Attorney General William Barr has said there was no sign of widespread fraud.