Total number of Capitol riot criminal probes will top 300 by Saturday, says DOJ official

The FBI is expected to have more than 300 active criminal probes into last week’s deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and that number could increase “exponentially” by the end of the weekend, Justice Department officials said Friday.

“If this investigation was a football game, we’d still be in the first quarter,” said Steven D’Antuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

Just three days ago, FBI officials had roughly half as many open cases signaling just how sprawling this investigation has become.

So far, federal prosecutors have charged 98 individuals, said Michael Sherwin, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. He described those already ensnared as “low-hanging fruit,” but vowed to bring more significant charges as the investigation grows.

Many of those already caught have been turned in by their friends, family members and even ex-wives. But Mr. Sherwin said some rioters have turned themselves in to the authorities.

“These cases are having an impact,” he said. “These individuals have self-reported and turned themselves in with attorneys. We believe that will continue as it goes on.”