Thread by @jsrailton

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.

https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1350148617542238210

@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👇

https://twitter.com/arawnsley/status/1350989535954530315

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.

https://twitter.com/jsrailton/status/1351006823915151365