A prosecutor in a Texas court argued that a retired Air Force officer who was part of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th brought plastic zip-tie handcuffs with him because he intended “to take hostages.”
According to the Associated Press, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer explained the alleged intent of retired Lt. Col. Larry Rendall Brock Jr. when he carried the zip ties saying, “He means to take hostages. He means to kidnap, restrain, perhaps try, perhaps execute members of the U.S. government.”
Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would release Brock to home confinement, even after prosecutors argued that Brock should remain behind bars. Judge Cureton also ordered Brock to surrender any firearms and prohibited his internet access as conditions of his release.
“I need to put you on a very short rope,” the judge said. “These are strange times for our country, and the concerns raised by the government do not fall on deaf ears.”
While the assistant U.S. Attorney did not specifically lay out Brock’s plan in detail, he did note “his prior experience and training make him all the more dangerous.”
