MUST WATCH: investigation by @WSJ shows 100+ Proud Boys coordinating, instigating and leading key elements of the #Capitol breach
Proud Boy 1: "Lets take the f* ** capitol"
Proud Boy 2: "Lets not F*** yell that alright"...
Etc.
wsj.com/video/video-in…
2/ The investigation walks through the footage (props to @WSJ, there's so much!) starting with Proud Boys staging under the direction of leaders including (now-arrested) Joe Biggs outside the #Capitol
3/ In the staging area, a Proud Boy identified as Dan Scott aka 'Milkshake' yells "lets take the f***ng capitol"
-Milkshake is admonished by another PB.
-Someone makes fun of 'Milkshake' for the indiscretion(?). Some laughter.
-"Don't yell it, do it" says another, quietly.
4/ The @WSJ places key Proud Boys from pre-breach meet-ups as instigators of later violence and activity by the crowd.
This absolutely matches what many of us have observed...
5/ Breach begins: @WSJ finds Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs in the crowd at an outer police cordon, communicating with a man in a red hat.
Minutes later, red hat man is the 1st past the breached police line.
6/ As the first police line goes down we see multiple identifiable Proud Boys at the front. @WSJ names Michael Porter, for example.
Note the orange tape on helmets. This is an identification sign that many of us observed Proud Boys using throughout the day.
7/ Proud Boys stay at the front of the rush of people, squaring off as they encounter #Capitol Police at the West Entrance. The @WSJ spots Proud Boy #Spazzo.
Remember him? He was the earpiece-wearing window breacher.
@WSJ 7/ Zen sidebar on window-breacher Dominic ‘Spazzo’ Pezzola: his lawyer claimed to the @WSJ that his radio earpiece was "for listening to music"
8/ A Proud Boy exhorts the crowd gathering in front of the police line at base of Capitol:
"Do you want your house back?... Take it!"
Note the orange tape. Also, here's now-arrested Robert Gieswein.
Details on how some of us originally ID'd him here👇
9/ After staying in the front of the melee w/police... some Proud Boys flank the officers and join a group fighting their way up the left side, through scaffolding and stairs.
Dominic ‘Spazzo’ Pezzola & Gieswein are spotted. Gieswein sprays something at officers...
10/ Its 2:12 pm. Now up the stairs and against the building Dominic ‘Spazzo’ Pezzola uses a police shield to breach the window, then steps back and lets others including Gieswein inside accompanied by cries of "Go go go!" Then joins them.
11/ The breaching party is inside. Men including Gieswein & Spazzo encounter, then chase officer Eugene Goodman up the stairs..
They come incredibly close to the undefended lawmakers in the Senate (door highlighted in blue). Thankfully, Goodman distracts them.
12/ Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs isn't far behind.
"This is awesome"
Pic right: Biggs has told @DailyMail he
- only went into the #Capitol to find a bathroom
- no planned storming...
- he actually meant "awe-inspiring" & also "awful"
SMH.
Source: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9…
13/ Shortly after, and now back outside, the main police line is breached. Other Proud Boys make it into #Capitol with this larger group. One takes this selfie.
Another roams halls calling out for @SpeakerPelosi to "come out and play" His lawyer says "comments were in jest"
14/ The @WSJ piece is an excellent, damming illustration of what many of us observed: Proud Boys played a key role at the #Capitol.
Congrats to the team that assembled it & their colleagues that helped out.
Why I'm a @WSJ subscriber. Subscribe here: subscribe.wsj.com
15/ Coda: Robert Gieswein wore several patches, including Woodland Wild Dogs (his own thing), & has some militia connections.
However, remains unclear (to me) whether his co-presence w/Proud Boys around #Capitol points a longer-term relationship.
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