Antifa Supporters Planned to Firebomb Federal Buildings and Attack Police Lines, Court Filing Alleges
A group of self-identified Antifa supporters who sought “civil war and revolution” on Jan. 6 allegedly planned to firebomb federal buildings and use a Roman legion formation to attack police lines, according to a court filing on Sept. 15.
Defendant William Pope of Topeka, Kansas, included this information in a renewed push to compel federal prosecutors to release all bodycam footage and video filmed by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) undercover officers on Jan. 6, 2021.
Mr. Pope, publisher of the news website Free State Kansas, was present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, covering the protest and subsequent violence.
Mr. Pope is facing multiple charges, including civil disorder and obstructing an official proceeding. His trial is scheduled for July 2024.
In his motion, Mr. Pope revealed that MPD officers made a traffic stop on Jan. 6 and encountered three Antifa operatives: Jonathan Kelly, Logan Grimes, and Dempsey Mikula.
“Undercover officers who stopped their vehicle said they had received reports that the individuals were carrying weapons,” Mr. Pope wrote. “No footage of this incident has been produced by the government in discovery. However, Kelly live-streamed part of the police stop to Facebook.”
Mr. Kelly refused a vehicle search, prompting the officers to call for a dog to sniff for contraband.
“A little over ten minutes into Kelly’s livestream, a team of uniformed MPD officers arrived to replace the undercover police,” Mr. Pope explained. “These officers wore body cameras and instructed Kelly, Grimes, and Mikula to exit the vehicle while they waited for the dog.”
Some of the undercover officers involved in the traffic stop were identified as members of MPD’s Electronic Surveillance Unit (ESU), which had a presence at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Nearly 30 ESU members were assigned to duty that day, according to the MPD’s 96-page Jan. 6 action plan. They wore a special band on their left wrist to identify themselves as part of the unit. ‘We Are Antifa’
The trio of Antifa adherents created a video of themselves singing “We are Antifa” during their drive from Michigan to Washington for the Jan. 6 events, as shown in a video exhibit filed by Mr. Pope.
According to Mr. Pope, Metropolitan Police arrested Mr. Grimes for carrying a pistol without a license and possessing a high-capacity magazine and unregistered ammunition.
The U.S. Department of Justice has released body camera footage from the officer who transported Mr. Grimes from the scene of the arrest to the booking facility, but recordings from other officers involved in the stop and arrest have been withheld.
Charges against Mr. Grimes were dropped on Jan. 7, 2021.
“This lack of prosecution compared to other January 6 cases and the government’s withholding of information about the ESU officers involved in the Antifa car stop and body camera recordings demonstrates intentional concealment of information about this Antifa seditious conspiracy,” Mr. Pope argued. “Such information is exculpatory in my case.”
Antifa supporters Logan (aka Leslie) Grimes and Dempsey Mikula (right) look on while police search the vehicle in which they were riding on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
The three Antifa operatives communicated through a server on the social media platform Discord. They discussed looking up blueprints for federal buildings to firebomb and shared tactical plans for attacking police lines using a Roman legion formation, according to Mr. Pope.
“Kelly and Grimes were clearly conspiring with John Sullivan using Sullivan’s online server,” Mr. Pope stated. “On December 29, 2020, John Sullivan posted an image of firearms and tactical gear on his Antifa server along with the message: ‘Civil War and Revolution.’ Discord Server Coordination
Mr. Pope believes that MPD undercover video and officer bodycam footage could provide further evidence of communication and coordination between Mr. Sullivan and Antifa operatives.
“This makes all ESU recordings and bodycam recordings of Sullivan, Kelly, Grimes, Mikula, and any other conspiring Antifa relevant to my defense, and the government has a Brady obligation to produce all such recordings and any other related materials in discovery,” Mr. Pope argued. “This also further justifies my request for the court to grant my motion to compel the government to produce all ESU recordings and body-worn camera footage.”
On Jan. 6, Mr. Sullivan exclaimed, “This is a revolution, mother[expletives], let’s go, we taking this [expletive]!” After breaking through police lines, he declared, “This [expletive] is ours” and called for others to join him.
Mr. Kelly, wearing a gas mask and carrying a baseball bat, was the last person on the southwest scaffolding at the Capitol and had to be removed by police.
Protesters clash with police on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as shown on a CCTV exterior Rotunda camera. (U.S. Capitol Police/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)
“Kelly and Mikula then faced off with police lines and stayed at the Capitol past the curfew,” Mr. Pope added.
Mr. Grimes and Mr. Kelly posted photos of themselves in the crowds near the Ellipse. Mr. Kelly even asked his Antifa co-conspirators if he should “start blasting [expletive] Donald Trump on my megaphone,” indicating their objective to cause chaos on Jan. 6, 2021.
In previous court filings, Mr. Pope revealed how an undercover MPD officer assisted protesters in climbing over barricades and encouraged them to continue towards the Capitol. He was also heard participating in crowd chants. More recently, Mr. Pope disclosed how MPD officers on the Capitol’s upper terrace retreated from an entrance, allowing protesters free access to stream into the Capitol.
Why is it important to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure transparency in order to understand the extent of Antifa’s involvement in the violence that occurred on January 6
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The court filing alleges that Kelly, Grimes, and Mikula were part of a group of Antifa supporters who planned to firebomb federal buildings and use a Roman legion formation to attack police lines. Mr. Pope claims that the government has not produced any footage of the traffic stop or the individuals carrying weapons.
This renewed push to compel the release of bodycam footage and videos filmed by Metropolitan Police Department undercover officers is part of Mr. Pope’s defense strategy. He believes that the footage will shed light on the events of January 6 and potentially exonerate him.
The Capitol protest on January 6, 2021, turned violent and resulted in the storming of the Capitol building by a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The incident led to multiple arrests and widespread condemnation. The court filing in Mr. Pope’s case highlights the alleged involvement of Antifa supporters in the violence.
Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is a loosely organized and decentralized political movement that opposes far-right and fascist ideologies. However, it has faced controversy and criticism for its tactics and alleged involvement in acts of violence. The alleged plans of firebombing federal buildings and attacking police lines, if true, would be consistent with the more extreme elements of the movement.
The court filing raises important questions about the events of January 6 and the individuals involved. It underscores the need for transparency and a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. The release of bodycam footage and videos filmed by undercover officers could provide valuable evidence and help determine the extent of Antifa’s involvement in the violence that occurred that day.
Mr. Pope’s trial is scheduled for July 2024, and it remains to be seen what impact the release of additional evidence, such as the requested bodycam footage, will have on the proceedings.
As the events of January 6 continue to be the subject of intense scrutiny and investigation, it is crucial to ensure a fair and thorough examination of all available evidence. Only by uncovering the truth can we truly understand what transpired and hold all responsible parties accountable.
The allegations of planned firebombing and attacks on police lines by Antifa supporters further highlight the need for a comprehensive examination of extremist ideologies and movements in our society. It is important to address the underlying factors that contribute to this kind of violence and work towards a more peaceful and inclusive future.
In conclusion, the court filing alleging the planned firebombing of federal buildings and attacks on police lines by Antifa supporters adds a new dimension to the ongoing investigation into the events of January 6. It underscores the importance of transparency, uncovering the truth, and holding all individuals involved accountable for their actions.
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