On Saturday (Jan. 23), CNN reported that a pro-Trump rioter who stormed the United States Capitol in the attack weeks back on Jan. 6 has been arrested and charged for threatening to “assassinate” New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The Justice Department announced the new charges against the man from Texas who reportedly posted a number of death threats not just to AOC, but the Capitol Policeman who fatally shot a rioter during the attack, and others who wanted to fight supporters of the former president. The arrested man’s name is Garret Miller and he’s facing a total of five charges.
According to court documents, he allegedly tweeted, “assassinate AOC.” In regard to the cop who shot the rioter, Miller added that he “deserves to die” and won’t “survive long” because it’s “huntin[g] season.” Documents also showed that he said that “civil war could start” and “next time we bring the guns” on his social media accounts, which he used often to share his dangerous messages.
Miller was taken into custody on Wednesday (Jan. 20) and prosecutors have asked the judge presiding over his case to keep him locked up without bail, as he awaits trial for his actions. A detention hearing has been set for Monday (Jan. 25).
Miller’s lawyer, Clint Broden, has since told CNN that his client “certainly regrets what he did.”
“He did it in support of Former President (Donald) Trump, but regrets his actions. He has the support of his family, and a lot of the comments, as viewed in context, are really sort of misguided political hyperbole. Given the political divide these days, there is a lot of hyperbole,” Broden said to the media outlet.
After the riots, AOC took to IG Live to share that she feared for her life during the experience. “Many members of Congress were almost murdered. Many Congressional staffers were almost killed. Many children of members of Congress were there,” she said.
“I did not know if I was going to make it to the end of that day alive. Not just in a general sense, but also in a very, very specific sense.”
A number of U.S. Capitol rioters have already been arrested with many more being taken into custody and charged by the day.