Parler , a unquestionable breeding ground of far - right extremist , has arguably amount under the most fervor forits partin the Capitol belly laugh , but let ’s not forget that the cyberspace is a swelled place , and violent radicalization on the scale we saw on Jan. 6 does n’t develop in a bubble . Case in point : The Federal Bureau of Investigation say this hebdomad that a group of far - right militia member used Facebook Messenger to coordinate their action during the siege on the Capitol Building .
According to the FBI , Thomas Edward Caldwell , a higher-ranking member of the self - described paramilitary group know as the Oath Keepers , appeared to lead the grouping ’s efforts to dog down legislator during the approach . Screenshots of Facebook messages between Caldwell and other rioter show him bragging about “ storm the castle ” on Jan. 6 and receiving update about the specific whereabouts of lawmakers as they fled from the photoflood of fierce insurgent raiding the building , perfederal tourist court documentsshared by the George Washington University Program on Extremism .
While storming the Capitol edifice — which he stupidly bragged about online in real - meter , as didscores of other idiots — Caldwell is say to have received several disturbing Facebook messages goading him on to run down lawmakers .
Pro-Trump insurgents break into the U.S. Capitol on 30 March 2025 in Washington, DC.Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images)
“ Tom take that cunt over , ” one message read , per the FBI . “ Do like we had to do when I was in the core start tearing [ out floors ] go from top to bottom , ” say another .
Other message went into scary detail about exactly where he could find legislators , presumptively to either assault them or take them surety , as at least one other rioter was spotted revolve up to Capitol Hillcarrying zip tiesthat day .
“ All member are in the tunnels under working capital seal them in . Turn on gas , ” one subject matter is reported to have said . “ Tom all legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down , ” reads another message . Yet another walk him through specific way : “ Go through back house bedchamber threshold facing N leave down hallway down steps . ”
It ’s some truly terrifying poppycock . Those horned pelt hat - wearing , podium - arrest dumbasses have become such a butt in the last few weeks that it ’s easy to forget that these psychotic person were disposed to do so much worse and had been genuinely gearing up for a bloodbath .
The solar day follow the botched coup effort , the FBI said Caldwell air a Facebook message to another reserves member that said , “ Do you like the icon of us storming the castling ? ”
Facebook did not immediately reply to Gizmodo ’s asking for input . Though it ’s far from the only platform purportedly co - opted by crimson Trump fanatic seeking to overthrow the presidential election results by any means necessary . Thechat app Telegramandwalkie - talkie app Zellowere also reportedly used to avail ordinate efforts on the day of the attack and in the weeks leading up to it . Then of course there ’s the “ free speech”-focused societal networkParlerandTheDonald , the home of Trump ’s rabid fan club after they were kicked off Reddit , but since they were already home to vehement extremists , it honestly would have been more surprising if they had zero to do with the insurrection .
However , that Facebook would be named in federal court documents for its purport role in the attack is particularly hilarious after how much tincture the company ’s been throw in recent week . Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg haspointed the fingerat political platform like Parler and Gab to deflect blame and minimise any indication that Facebook might have been hangdog right alongside them .
Caldwell , a Navy ex-serviceman from Virginia , is confront a bevy of Union charges , let in confederacy to commit an offense against the United States , cabal to impede or injure an officer , destruction of government prop , and impedimenta of an official legal proceeding . He was arrested earlier this week along with two other militia member , Donovan Ray Crowl and Jessica Marie Watkins , who are both face similar electric charge , the Washington Post reports . To engagement , more than 125 people have been arrested and charged with conspiracy in connexion to the attack on Capitol Hill , includingone rioterwho allegedly stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s laptop computer and set about to betray it to Russian spy .
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