Capital Mob Wanted to Hang Pence and They Already Had Erected the Noose

 

Disturbing new details have emerged about the apparent murderous intentions of some of the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the US Capitol this week, including killing senior politicians Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi.

Authorities have revealed that a vehicle found near the scene shortly after the siege contained a large number of firearms and explosives.

It comes as a Reuters photographer recounted what rioters were discussing as they tore through the Capitol on January 6 – including hanging the Vice President from a tree for being a “traitor”.

Despite being a Republican, Mr Pence is now loathed by a number of Trump supporters after endorsing Joe Biden’s electoral college victory.

In newly released footage, rioters can be heard chanting, “Where’s Mike Pence?” as they rush through the building, while others demand “heads on pikes”.

According to CNN, a terrified Mr Pence and his family — his wife Karen Pence, daughter Charlotte and brother, Representative Greg Pence — could hear the chants as they were evacuated from the building, fearing for their lives.

The Vice President wasn’t the only target of some rioters.

An armed rioter was arrested and texts were found on his phone of his alleged plans to execute House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, by shooting her or running her over with his car.

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A noose is seen on makeshift gallows as supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol. Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFPSource:AFP 

“I heard at least three different rioters at the Capitol say that they hoped to find Vice President Mike Pence and execute him by hanging him from a Capitol Hill tree as a traitor,” tweeted Jim Bourg, a Reuters News Pictures editor in Washington DC.

“It was a common line being repeated. Many more were just talking about how the VP should be executed,” he added.

Another journalist, The Independent’s Washington correspondent Andrew Feinberg, said that the threat went further than just Mike Pence. 

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US Vice President Mike Pence feared for his life on January 6 during the Capitol siege. Picture: Eric Baradat / AFPSource:AFP 

“There are multiple photographs of pro-Trump rioters carrying law enforcement-style flex-cuffs,” Mr Feinberg tweeted.

“Rioters went looking for @VP (Mike Pence), @SpeakerPelosi (Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives) and @SenSchumer (Senator Chuck Schumer, New York’s Senator and the Senate Democratic Leader).

“It raises the question of whether there was an organised plan to take hostages,” he added.

A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFPSource:AFP

Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. Picture: Roberto Schmidt / AFPSource:AFP

Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. allegedly sent a text message saying he was thinking of “putting a bullet in (Pelosi’s) noggin on Live TV” and another that said he was headed to Washington with “a s – t ton of … armour piercing ammo,” CNN reported.

He also allegedly texted a friend about running over Pelosi with his car. He was found with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and an assault rifle.

Mr Meredith is one of three defendants found carrying significant weaponry at the riots, and is due in court next week.

Meanwhile, authorities are hunting a man captured on camera leaving pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee in the hours before the siege.

The FBI has widely shared a photo of the man, and also offered a US$50,000 (AU$64,000) for any further information.

A photograph released by the FBI of a man suspected of leaving two pipe bombs near government buildings.Source:Supplied

Trump’s mob stormed the historic Capitol building, breaking windows and clashing with police. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

Another man was arrested after being found with multiple firearms and 11 molotov cocktails in his car just outside the Capitol building.

Alabama man Lonnie Leroy Coffman, 70, was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and carrying a pistol without a license after the discovery of the molotov cocktails in his car.

In all, 13 people are facing federal charges stemming from the riot, the Justice Department said.

Police have launched a social media campaign to find some of the biggest offenders.