Texas man charged for alleged role in Capitol riots, online death threats to Ocasio-Cortez

A Texas man faces federal charges for his suspected involvement in the violent Jan. 6 pro-Trump riot at the Capitol, as well as for online death threats allegedly made against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and a Capitol Police officer. 

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Garret Miller posted a video from the Capitol on his Twitter page, captioned “From inside congress.” He also allegedly made several other social media posts indicating his involvement leading up to and following the riot. 

“I am about to drive across the country for this trump s—,” Miller wrote in a Jan. 2 post, according to the complaint. “Some crazy s— going to happen this week. Dollar might collapse … civil war could start … not sure what to do in DC.” 

In the hours following the riot, Miller allegedly replied to a tweet from Ocasio-Cortez that read, “Impeach,” indicating the congresswoman’s support to impeach former President Trump for his involvement in provoking the riot. 

The criminal complaint noted that in response, Miller wrote “we acted with honor and we where [sic] not armed,” and then, in an additional reply, added, “Assassinate AOC.” 

Miller on social media also vocalized his anger with the fatal shooting of one of the rioters, Ashli Babbitt. According to the criminal complaint, Miller threatened to find the Capitol Police officer who shot Babbitt and “hug his neck with a nice rope.” 

Days later, Miller allegedly wrote in a Facebook post that the officer was “not going to survive long,” and that he “deserve[s] to die,” adding that it was “huntin season.” 

Miller was arrested in the Northern District of Texas on Wednesday and made his first court appearance Friday, according to Justice Department records. 

The Texas man faces a total of five charges: unlawful entry, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, obstructing an official proceeding and acts of civil disorder and threats made online, according to the court filing. 

Ocasio-Cortez responded to the charges on Twitter Friday, specifically citing one tweet in which Miller wrote, “just wanted to incriminate myself a little,” after posting a selfie at the Capitol. 

“Well, you did!” the congresswoman responded. 

She added in a follow-up tweet, “On one hand you have to laugh, and on the other know that the reason they were this brazen is because they thought they were going to succeed.” 

On one hand you have to laugh, and on the other know that the reason they were this brazen is because they thought they were going to succeed.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 23, 2021

As of Saturday, the Justice Department has already charged more than 135 individuals for committing crimes on or around the grounds of the Capitol, with more charges expected in the coming weeks and months. 

Ocasio-Cortez, who has called on Trump and his supporters to be held responsible in connection to the riot, revealed last week in an Instagram video that she had a “close encounter” during the riot in which she feared for her life. 

Ocasio-Cortez said she could not divulge details of the encounter “due to security concerns,” but underscored that “I thought I was going to die.”