Getty Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election.
Cleveland Meredith of Hiawassee, Georgia was among those arrested in the siege of the US Capitol and charged for allegedly threatening to kill Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
He was charged January 7, 2021 with making interstate threats, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of unlawful possession of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint filed in his case.
Law enforcement said Meredith sent texts saying he was considering “putting a bullet” in Pelosi’s head “on live TV,” claimed to have “armor-piercing ammo” and said “I predict that within 12 days, many in our country will die.” He further said his spy name was “DoubleODips***,” according to court documents filed in his case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a slew of arrests following the January 6, 2021 protests, including Jacob Anthony Chansley, aka Jake Angeli, of Arizona, and Adam Johnson of Florida. Authorities said Chansley was the man who appeared in the Capitol wearing a horned helmet and red, white and blue face paint, and Johnson was the man pictured carrying Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s podium. Also charged were David Blair, 26, of Clarksburg, Maryland, for allegedly assaulting an officer with a lacrosse stick, and Lonnie Coffman, 70, of Falkville, Alabama, for allegedly possessing guns and components to make Molotov cocktails.
Here’s what you need to know:
Law Enforcement Said Meredith Sent a Text Saying He Was Thinking About ‘Putting a Bullet in [Pelosi’s] Noggin’ on Live TV
Meredith, whose full name is Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr., lives in the Atlanta area and allegedly sent threatening texts the day of and day after the siege on the US Capitol, punctuated with purple devil emojis. He sent a text January 6, 2021, saying that he was “stuck in Cambridge, OH with trailer lights being fixed, crappers.”
He later sent a text saying it was “just fixed” and that he was “headed to DC with a s*** ton of 5.56 armor piercing ammo.”
On January 7, officials said he sent a text which said, “Thinking about heading over to Pelosi C***’s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV.”
The text recipient responded, “That comment you made about Pelosi, what the f*** are you thinking. Get real.”
He answered, “Psychological warfare. I’ve been on the radar awhile now, they now (sic) I’m harmless.”
In another text conversation, he allegedly said “How much u give me to trench the Capital (sic) lawn with ma big truck?”
Police said the person responded, “Don’t do it.”
Meredith allegedly said later, “I’m gonna run that C*** Pelosi over while she chews on her gums.”
Officials said he later also wrote, “Dead B**** Walking. I predict that within 12 days, many in our country will die.”
Police said Meredith sent a picture of himself wearing a black face covering, and said he was going to walk around DC “yelling Allahu ak Bar randomly.”
The other person later responded, “Cleve, be careful! I’m worried about you.”
He responded, “Lol, jus havin fun. My Spy name is: DoubleODips***.”
Meredith gave agents consent to search his hotel room, truck, trailer and phone, according to court documents filed in his case. They said they found three guns – a Glock 19, a 9 mm pistol and an assault rifle – and “approximately hundreds of rounds of ammunition.” He agreed to speak with FBI agents without an attorney, and said he intended to arrive January 5 from Colorado, but arrived to late for the rally. He said he knew he was not permitted to have firearms in Washington DC, and placed them in the trailer, the court documents said.
He told agents he was at a previous rally in Washington, DC, and also attended a protest outside of Governor Brian Kemp’s residence in Georgia.
Agents said they also found steroids and THC edibles in his hotel room.
Meredith Has Ties to an Atlanta-Area Car Wash & Social Media Accounts Link Him to QAnon
Cleveland Meredith from GA text: to put “a bullet in (Pelosi’s) noggin on Live TV” & he’s headed to DC w armor-piercing bullets. FBI found assault rifle, handguns and ”hundreds of rounds of ammunition” when they searched his truck in DC after the riot.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Meredith has ties to the QAnon conspiracy theory. 11Alive reported several social media accounts they believe are linked to Meredith show “numerous posts” in support of the riot at the Capitol, President Donald Trump and QAnon claims.
11 Alive said Meredith has ties to metro Atlanta. Those ties include a car wash business registered under his name. Court records in Fulton and Cobb counties also link Meredith to other businesses dealings and list traffic violations.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said his office and law enforcement partner agencies will continue their investigations to arrest those responsible for the siege on the Capitol.
“The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nation’s greatest institutions,” he said. “My Office, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. We are resolute in our commitment to holding accountable anyone responsible for these disgraceful criminal acts, and to anyone who might be considering engaging in or inciting violence in the coming weeks – know this: you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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