From Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System: #SwedishScarf

Source: NBC News

Meet the Hollywood extra who stormed the Capitol and ended up on the FBI wanted list

An excerpt from the upcoming book "Sedition Hunters" by NBC News reporter Ryan J. Reilly tells the tale of one of the more mysterious figures of the Capitol riot.

Sept. 23, 2023, 7:00 AM EDT
By Ryan J. Reilly

Editor's Note: The following is adapted from "Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System," a forthcoming book by NBC News justice reporter Ryan J. Reilly. The book, which will be published by Public Affairs on Oct. 17, tells the inside story of the online sleuths driving the FBI's sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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Gonell snapped several photos of the scene that night. In the small space between the double set of golden doors of the tunnel — where Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges was crushed by a riot shield held by a rioter with long hair and transition lenses as Hodges screamed out in pain — Gonell snapped a photo of a bunch of debris on the ground: water bottles, broken sticks, a cord, a mini bullhorn, and a crumpled-up red-and-white scarf.

In 2017, the town of Skellefteå, Sweden, mailed out 934 of those scarves as Christmas gifts to people who had moved away from the region. One of them had ended up in the Capitol tunnel. A man whom the online "Sedition Hunters" would dub #SwedishScarf had dropped it.

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"I need to know right now who’s following me. Who’s with me?" said the man who came to be known as #SwedishScarf, who had taken on a leadership role. He'd already lost the rare, red garment in a Capitol tunnel, but had done a few wardrobe changes, including wearing an America-themed scarf and wearing a Trump flag as cape. Earlier, as several rioters who helped lead the mob charging the police line, he wore a stolen police helmet.

Now, inside the Capitol office suite, as another rioter yelled out, “We need more bodies in here!” and lured people in through the window, #SwedishScarf wanted music. He suggested “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. ...

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/hollywood-actor-john-mayer-music-video-jan-6-capitol-rcna92375