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helping organize crowdsourced information about the 1/6 Capitol attack. also: @capitolhunters@mastodon.social @capitolhunters.bsky.social

Dec 23, 2021, 21 tweets

#SeditionHunters watching the 3-hour tunnel surveillance cam video newly released as part of US vs. Nichols (now on YouTube), here are some pointers. The start times out as about 2 PM so it covers nearly the full battle, including key gaps in coverage. 1/

If seconds matter, the start is 1:59:52 PM, timed off #TunnelCommander's exit from the tunnel at 2:52 in our sync - you can see him grab for the sides to pull himself up: 2/

The first gap in coverage this new video fills is the crucial 10 first minutes, when attackers walked in & found that they were blocked. The first to enter were known only from the outside. (Photo here from #RustyCanuck, h/t @rocketman2001). 3/

#SleevelessRedTattoos in that photo is not much of a soldier (and a deeply messed-up human IRL) but seemed to have a job to do - had been waiting at the top of the SW stairs. He bails quickly when the police resist. The first invaders seemed unprepared for any difficulty. 4/

Within minutes, tougher and more senior figures arrive. at 2:46 PM, #TerroristGreybeard (suspected 3Per) arrives, gives some directions, then exits again... 5/

#TerroristGreybeard returns 2:48 PM with a fire extinguisher (L), gives it a test squirt, heads in to pass it to someone at the police line, leaves again. Not random mob behavior. The police push back, buddy #CaptainAdolf shows up 2:53 PM (R) & consults w/ #TunnelCommander... 6/

At that point the fight is on, but there's interior footage now from pros, from rw media figure Andrew Morgan (#HarleyHatFilmer), & from QAnoner Yvonne St. Cyr (#WindowWatcher) who climbs up and films with her cellphone (L). That's actor Jay Johnston (#GQCamoGaiter) in front. 7/

The Fanone dragging sequence starts ca. 3:16 PM, when organizers like #BandanaWolverine are shoving people into the tunnel. Here he's pulling on Proud Boy #GogglesMan (called a fed by Nichols' lawyer), and VIP #IamNathanHughes is arriving at R; he drove in with Cindy Chafian. 8/

#Unlucky13, who will within minutes drag out Fanone, is already confronting him at the front line. It's clearly seen in the alternate version of sync'd footage from Consuelo Gonzalez that includes Fanon's bodycam. 9/

New video shows clearly how #Unlucky13 drags out Fanone just after 3:18 PM, with an arm around his neck. As Fanone is pulled out of the tunnel, Hughes (#IamNathanHughes) is grabbing the shield of a 2nd officer, who will also shortly be out in the mob. 10/

During the biggest gap in sync video, the 1/2 hour after Fanone's return, not much happens - the tunnel is a solid plug of police. At 3:54 PM, the fight is back on, led by 3Pers and LA Proud Boy #FlagGaiterCopHater (David Dempsey). New sync link: 11/

For nearly 10 minutes attackers strike police from above, hanging from sides or top of the tunnel or crowdsurfing in. Then at 2:02 PM, #RyanNichols, near the front, gestures for a crowd-control sprayer, raises it, and sprays police. His yellow gloves are easy to spot. 12/

It's unclear why Nichols' lawyer thought the surveillance cam video would help his client - instead it just makes it unambiguous that the target was police in the tunnel. Watch for yourself. Inside: Outside:
13/

While furious attacks continue, a new strategy also becomes evident - invaders try to squeeze past officers, slip into the tunnel. Watch #SwedishScarf worm his way into a corner. The front of the tunnel gradually fills with invaders, cluttering the police line. 14/

Meanwhile the call goes out for a third strategy: "break the f---ing window!" #RyanNichols (yellow gloves) seems heavily involved in some kind of strategizing. His lawyer claims video is exculpatory, but the more video there is, the more unusual Nichols' behavior seems. 15/

At 2:14 PM, a strange and violent sequence begins. The window next to the tunnel is broken & invaders climb in. At the tunnel, attackers try to carry in a giant backpack. Tougher types continue to appear, including several who act as security to VA State Senator Amanda Chase. 16/

The next 15 minutes are some of the strangest of the Capitol attack; they need care & standalone threads. At 2:17 PM Nichols emerges from the window, says police have threatened to use lethal force, urges the crowd to "bring your weapon". The push inside the tunnel continues. 17/

As police push back, multiple rioters slip and fall, including Rosanne Boyland. The 4:21-4:25 period had never been seen before, but the new video doesn't offer easy answers. Not much aid was given; by 4:26 a brutal attack begins in which 2 more officers are dragged & beaten. 18/

This period is key to understanding Jan 6, as by its end the strategic attack was off. By 4:30 PM it's over; the only fighters left are disturbed normies; the militiamen are gathered in angry clumps. Maybe the new video can help us understand. 19/

Typo above: the "lethal force" moment is 4:17 PM. 4:17 PM is also the exact minute that Trump finally Tweeted a pre-recorded "Go Home" video - that's why this moment needs a thread of its own. Timeline below, tho the new video suggests some changes. 20/
docs.google.com/document/d/1jx…

Be advised there are actually three typos in the thread that are -2 hours, slip-ups from watching video with a 2 PM start time. Tweets 12, 16, and 17 should be 4:02 PM, 4:14 PM, and 4:17 PM, not 2 hours earlier. Hopefully people can use judgment and it's not too confusing. 21/

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