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    Capitol Riot Prompts A Reckoning Over Extremism In The Ranks

    The deadly riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6 has forced military leadership to confront the threat of domestic extremism. Rioters that day included current and former service members.
    by Tom Bowman Feb 10, 2021 4 minutes
    Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally on Jan. 6. So far, military veterans account for about 15% of those criminally charged in the Capitol riot, according to an NPR analysis.

    Less than two weeks after hundreds of rioters — including current and former service members — converged on the Capitol and broke through the doors, threatened lawmakers and injured and killed police, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin appeared before a Senate committee for his confirmation hearing.

    "The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies," he told members of the Armed Services Committee. "But we can't do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks."

    So far, military veterans account for about 15% of those criminally charged in the. Some rioters carried Marine Corps flags. Others dressed as soldiers, while at least one member of the far-right group The Proud Boys told an NPR reporter that he served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Historical data has shown a link between military experience and right-wing extremism, and military experience is a prized asset in extremist circles.

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