"Investigators’ next challenge will be taking a cascade of low-level criminal charges like unauthorized entry into the Capitol and using them as predicate offenses that allow agents and prosecutors to dig further in their attempt to build a broader case for conspiracy, law-enforcement officials said.
“Now after those charges are filed, then we have the ability to then indict these individuals on more significant charges,” Mr. Sherwin said. Pointing to efforts to secure more serious charges in multiple states, he said, “And that is exactly what has happened.”
“The arrest is only the starting point,” said Richard M. Frankel, the former special agent in charge of the Newark, N.J., FBI field office. “Now they can go back and say, ‘Is this an organized effort to violate Congress, and do further criminal acts?’”
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"Investigators’ next challenge will be taking a cascade of low-level criminal charges like unauthorized entry into the Capitol and using them as predicate offenses that allow agents and prosecutors to dig further in their attempt to build a broader case for conspiracy, law-enforcement officials said.
“Now after those charges are filed, then we have the ability to then indict these individuals on more significant charges,” Mr. Sherwin said. Pointing to efforts to secure more serious charges in multiple states, he said, “And that is exactly what has happened.”
“The arrest is only the starting point,” said Richard M. Frankel, the former special agent in charge of the Newark, N.J., FBI field office. “Now they can go back and say, ‘Is this an organized effort to violate Congress, and do further criminal acts?’”