Updated at 3:05 p.m. ET
The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said Friday that investigators have not uncovered direct evidence at this point of any “kill/capture teams” targeting elected officials during the U.S. Capitol insurrection, contradicting allegations made earlier by federal prosecutors in Arizona.
U.S. prosecutors in Arizona said Thursday in a court filing against Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” that they have “strong evidence” members of the pro-Trump mob wanted to “capture and assassinate” officials.
Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, attributed what he called the “disconnect” in Arizona, and at least one other district, to the sprawling and complex nature of the investigation. There are preliminary hearings taking place in districts across the United States.
“At some of those hearings, there were other prosecutors, there may be a disconnect, may be adding information that’s not directly related to what we have,” Sherwin said at a news conference.
”It’s only a matter of time”
Chansley, the subject of the motion filed in Arizona, wore horns, face paint and fur on Jan. 6 as he stood on the Senate dais – where he left a threatening note for Vice President Pence, according to federal prosecutors in that state.
“It’s only a matter of time, justice is coming,” the handwritten note to Pence read, according to the court document. The note was left at the spot where, moments earlier, Pence had been poised to preside over a joint session to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Trump. Chansley told the FBI he believes Pence is a “child-trafficking traitor.”
Chansley told investigators that he didn’t mean the message to Pence as a threat.
“The Government strongly disagrees,” prosecutors said.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Arizona filed the memorandum Thursday as part of its argument against releasing Chansley while his case proceeds. He was slated to appear at a detention hearing Friday afternoon in Phoenix.
