Handguns, crowbars, Tasers and tomahawk axes: Dozens of Capitol rioters wielded "deadly or dangerous" weapons, prosecutors say

While driving to Washington, D.C., on January 6, Cleveland Meredith sent a text that said, "Hauling ass, 3.5 hours from target practice."

The day after the Capitol siege, prosecutors said, Meredith was arrested in D.C. with an assault-style rifle equipped with a telescopic sight, a Glock firearm with several high capacity magazines and over 2,500 rounds of ammunition — including at least 320 "armor-piercing" rounds. He arrived too late to attend the rally, but the following day, authorities said he sent a text threatening to shoot House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the head. Some Republican lawmakers have downplayed the riot on January 6. Congressman Andrew Clyde compared it to "a normal tourist visit" and Senator Ron Johnson said it "didn't seem like an armed insurrection" to him. Congressman Louie Gohmert said "there have been things worse than people without any firearms coming into a building."