Ryan Reilly, justice reporter at NBC News and author of Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System, discusses the crucial role of online sleuths in identifying Capitol riot suspects. The podcast explores their methods, successes, challenges, and frustration with the FBI's slow progress. It also delves into the difficulties the FBI faces in accessing certain apps and videos created by insurrectionists and highlights the potential impact of online sedition hunters in the future political landscape.
Online sleuths, known as Sedition Hunters, have been instrumental in identifying and providing leads on suspects in the January 6 Capitol riot, outpacing the slower progress of the FBI's investigation.
The FBI has faced challenges in effectively investigating the Capitol riot, including overwhelming tips, limitations in technological resources, and reluctance to engage with online information for fear of political bias accusations.
Deep dives
Federal investigation into January 6 continues with ongoing arrests
The federal investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot is ongoing, with the FBI still arresting rioters more than two years later. Despite having known about many individuals for months, arrests are still being made, such as the recent apprehension of Daniel and Peyton Valdez, a father and son from Colorado. The Valdez duo traveled to DC, with Daniel taking pictures of Peyton inside the Capitol, including one where Peyton is holding a riot shield and drinking a beer. The podcast highlights the fact that there are still numerous individuals with known identities who have not been arrested, as the investigation is only about a third of the way through. It also explores how online sleuths, known as Sedition Hunters, have played a significant role in identifying suspects and driving the federal investigation forward.
Technological hurdles and bureaucratic challenges faced by the FBI
The podcast discusses the challenges faced by the FBI in effectively investigating the January 6 events. It highlights the stark contrast between the fast-paced work of online sleuths and the slow response of the FBI. While online sleuths quickly gathered and analyzed extensive video footage to identify suspects, the FBI struggled with the overwhelming number of tips they received. Additionally, the podcast delves into the bureaucratic hurdles within the FBI, including limitations in technological resources and a lack of incentive for technologically skilled individuals to join the organization. The reluctance to engage with online information in fear of political bias accusations is also examined.
The role and impact of online sleuths in the investigation
The podcast highlights the crucial role played by online sleuths, known as Sedition Hunters, in the investigation of the January 6 Capitol riot. These individuals formed a collaborative community, sharing information on encrypted platforms and actively working to identify suspects through open-source research. They utilized facial recognition technology, online videos, and social media profiles to connect identities and compile evidence. This grassroots effort, driven by the sleuths' commitment and dedication, provided the FBI with valuable leads and information. Despite their success, the podcast also acknowledges the limitations faced by the sleuths, including concerns about their safety and reluctance to publicly claim credit due to potential backlash.
The FBI was overwhelmed trying to ID people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th. An online group picked up the slack and helped catch hundreds of rioters.
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