#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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#SeditionHunters: As Michael Fanone resigns from the MPD today, let's remember his insightful description of the "hybrid" Capitol attack: "This was an orchestrated event. Despite that fact that most of the people on the ground are buffoons, so what? There are 15,000 of them.” 1/
Fanone was nearly killed by buffoons. We know most people who touched him; they are self-motivated, delusional, not acting under orders. But they were brought to DC in an organized effort, and on Capitol grounds were steered and directed to pre-selected points of attack. 2/
Fanone's retirement made the Washington Post today. On Jan 6, the MPD was essential in saving the Capitol, but Fanone says “Clearly there are some members of our department who feel their oath is to Donald Trump and not to the Constitution” 3/ washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/…
#SeditionHunters - a long-awaited arrest this morning, the Chicago-area Proud Boy tagged as #AllBlackBabyThor (for his Nordic necklace). Hard to miss on Jan 6 as he seemed to think he was storming the beaches of Normandy (h/t @JusticeCat0106). 1/
#AllBlackBabyThor was hashtagged in February - his tendency to shout & strike poses meant he showed up in photos from many pro photojournalists. He carried mace and a radio, hit police with his flagpole, tried to direct the crowd... 2/
One clue as #AllBlackBabyThor's Chicago origin was that he walked in with #KidRedPB who wore a Chicago Blackhawks hoodie, but he was also well-known to Chicago-area right-wing watch groups. They called him "Space Cowboy" but now use both hashtags.. 3/
#SeditionHunters asked for court schedules, since there are some high-profile hearings this week - Ryan Nichols today & more upcoming. So here's T-F, in 3 Tweets). Jan 6 cases (in yellow) now make up 1/3 of the DC District Court's load - no wonder DOJ is pacing out arrests. 1/
Interesting status conferences tomorrow include Robert Gieswein (#WildDog); Idaho's #IamPamHemphill, Aaron Mostofsky (#FurryFoxGuy); Christopher Worrell (#SgtPepperSprayer) who is experiencing the FO part of FAFO; Gina Bisignano of Beverly Hills who is reportedly cooperating. 2/
Also #HelmetBoy (Zachary Alam) who smashed the window Ashli Babbit climbed through, Anthony Antonio (#BlackGlove805) who made a speech after Officer Fanone was dragged, Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Brock who carried zip ties into the Senate, & Proud Boy Matthew Greene (#FesterPB). 3/
@hunterw@JenLawrence21 Clarification: there was ALWAYS a plan to move people to the Capitol. Calls to be at the Capitol at 1 PM had circulated for months. People in the crowd talk about it. You hear people on livestreams telling Trump, hurry up, we have to get to the Capitol. The only question is..1/
@hunterw@JenLawrence21 ...who knew of what part of the plan. Maybe Stockton can say he doesn't know (though he hangs with III%ers - disingenuous that he acts shocked, shocked, that Ali is associated with militia). But there was nothing spontaneous about an effort to get a large crowd to the Capitol. 2/
@hunterw@JenLawrence21 Also here is Stockton posting in Dec. 2020 praising his friend Matt Couch, who is tight with Cindy Chafian, best buds with Nathan Hughes who fought at the tunnel on Jan 6, and involved in trying to spring Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio from jail on Jan 4th. 3/
#SeditionHunters - the FBI motors forward, mopping up networks: today more of Zach Rehl's Philadelphia Proud Boys. The main 5 who move together are now all arrested. The 3 today all shared a Telegram chat with Rehl, easily picked up via his phone after his March arrest. 1/
All of Rehl's crew helpfully provided names, blood types, and emergency contact info in the group text, along with coordinated travel and discussion of radios. Combined with their group selfies, they practically write their own conspiracy indictments. 2/ storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
Zach Rehl, Philly PB president, was first found inside the Capitol by @DianthaSol after a crowdsourced manhunt. His whole crew gathered in Sen. Merkley's office, familiar enough that they could be spotted even in black-and-white photos from the New Yorker... 3/
#SeditionHunters - three weeks ago the DoD Inspector General released a Jan 6 timeline so discrepant with former statements that it couldn't fit in our timeline. Now a bombshell memo call Lt. Generals Charles Flynn and Walter Piatt "unmitigated liars". 1/ politico.com/news/2021/12/0…
Former DC National Guard Col. Earl Matthews focuses on claims that it took hours to prepare National Guard to deploy to the Capitol, says those statements “constituted the willful deception of Congress.” 2/
Maj. Gen. Walker, former commander of the DC National Guard, had immediately called for the IG report to be retracted - it threw him under the bus, claimed he got a call at 4:35 PM to deploy the Guard and sat on it til 5:08 PM. Walker says that's a lie. 3/ washingtonpost.com/national-secur…