Summarization of events written by the Veteran X Team.
- James P. Mault stormed the Capitol during the January 6 riot in Washington, D.C.
- FBI received the anonymous tip about the 29-year-old’s participation in riot during this summer.
- Mault, who most recently served as a specialist in the 82nd Airborne Division, was also interviewed by FBI agents in his home state of New York on January 18, months before being drafted after a break in service.
- Background investigations were carried out, including a review of the files of the terrorist organization and violent gangs of the FBI, but Army officials saw no red flags.
- The assessment includes identity checks and checks, criminal background checks, sex offender interrogations, fingerprints submitted to the FBI, local police checks, and local court document reviews.
- During his interview with FBI agents on January 18, Mault admitted to attending the January 6 rally, but denied any wrongdoing.
- He said he was caught in the crowd when a federal criminal complaint saw the crowd approaching him to the Capitol.
- Later, although not specify when, FBI agents reviewed body camera footage of a DC police officer showing Mault making a chemical on the afternoon of January 6.
- Screenshots included in the criminal complaint showed Mault spraying the chemical while wearing a helmet covered with union stickers.
- Mault was a pre-service soldier who served in the New York Army National Guard from 2016 to 2020, according to 18th Airborne Corps spokesman Col. Joe Buccino.
- Lt. Col. Gabriel J. Ramirez said there was nothing preventing it from being included in Mault’s file.
Sourced from: https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/10/14/soldier-charged-in-capitol-riot-was-already-on-fbi-radar-when-he-enlisted-months-ago/
Information vetted by the Veteran X Team.
