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Who Were the US Capitol Rioters?

Masood Farivar

   When former President Donald Trump urged his followers last month to
   come to Washington to stop Congress' certification of Democratic rival
   Joe Biden's presidential victory, tens of thousands heeded his call.

   After hearing rousing speeches by Trump and his allies, thousands then
   marched on the nearby U.S. Capitol. An estimated 800 stormed the
   building in a melee shocking in its intensity and sustained violence,
   which left five people dead, including a police officer, and scores of
   others injured.

   While Trump is standing trial in the Senate this week on a single
   impeachment charge of inciting the mob on January 6, more than 200
   ardent Trump supporters who took part in the Capitol breach have been
   arrested and face a variety of charges in federal court in Washington.

   Who were the rioters? And what motivated them to attack the seat of
   their own government?

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