When it comes to holding the January 6 US Capitol rioters to account, the Justice Department has plenty of tools in its prosecutorial toolbox — and plenty of critics who have questioned whether they are prosecuting defendants to the fullest extent of the law.
Some of the alleged rioters are facing felonies stacked upon felonies — an assortment of obstruction, assault and theft charges, like the Pennsylvania man who’s been accused of punching a police officer and stealing the officer’s body camera. But dozens of other alleged rioters could plead guilty to misdemeanors and walk away with a slap on the wrist.
