A retired Air Force officer who was part of the mob that he stormed the United States Capitol last week cover plastic zippers with zipper because he intended to “take hostages,” a prosecutor in a Texas court said Thursday.
“It means taking hostages. It means kidnapping, containing, perhaps attempting, perhaps executing members of the U.S. government,” Deputy Attorney Jay Weimer said of retired Lt. Col. Larry Rendall Brock Jr. He did not provide any details.
The prosecutor had argued that Brock should be arrested, but Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would leave Brock in custody. Cureton ordered Brock to hand over any firearms and said he could only have limited Internet access as a condition of that release.
GrapevineTexas Police Department via AP
“I need to put you on a very short rope,” Cureton said. “These are strange times for our country and the concerns raised by the government do not fall on deaf ears.”
Brock appeared in court in a light green suit, a mask and with handcuffs on his hands and feet.
Weimer did not detail a specific plan for Brock, but noted that “his previous experience and training make him even more dangerous.”
He also read in court Brock’s posts on social media, including one posted on the day of the Capitol Revolt that said, “Patriots in the Capitol. Patriots attacking. Men with guns must throw themselves.”
Brock was arrested Sunday in Texas after being photographed on the Senate floor during the deadly riot wearing a helmet and a heavy vest and wearing zippered plastic handcuffs. The 53-year-old is charged with consciously entering or remaining in a restricted building or land without legal authority and of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Brock’s attorney, Brook Antonio II, noted that Brock has only been charged with misdemeanors. Antonio said there was no direct evidence that Brock broke doors or windows to enter the Capitol or did anything violent once inside.
“Everything is talked about. It’s all speculation and conjecture,” said Antonio, who noted Brock’s long service to the military, including his reactivation after 9/11 and his four tours in Afghanistan.
Weimer said Brock will likely face additional charges.
More than 100 people have been detained during the Capitol Revolt, with charges ranging from curfew violations to serious federal crimes related to theft and possession of weapons.
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The FBI has been investigating whether some riot police had planned to kidnap members of Congress and hold them hostage.
Prior to his arrest, Brock told The New Yorker magazine that he found the cuffs with straps on the ground and that he planned to give them to a police officer.
“I wish I hadn’t picked them up,” he said.
No evidence was presented that Brock had a firearm on the day of the Capitol riot.
Antonio asked an FBI agent to state if it was possible for Brock to just grab his fists and the agent acknowledged it was a possibility.
Weimer read a letter of cessation from Brock’s former employer saying he had spoken at work about killing people of a “particular religion or race.” Weimer also read posts on social media in which Brock referred to the upcoming civil war and the stolen election of President Donald Trump.
Weimer said Brock’s posts also referred to the far-right, anti-government Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters, an anti-government network that is part of the militia movement. The Oath Keepers claim to have as members thousands of active and former police officers and military veterans.
Although the FBI agent stated that there was no evidence beyond the posts on social media that Brock was involved with any of these groups.
Judges across the country, including some named by Trump, have repeatedly dismissed cases challenging election results, and Attorney General William Barr has said there were no signs of widespread fraud.