On January 6, 2021, individuals were captured on newly released videos obtained by CBS News erecting gallows and a noose on the west front of the Capitol. This act took place in the predawn hours of that day, with surveillance footage showing the brazenness of the work behind the gallows and noose, which have a history of racist and threatening overtones. As then-Vice President Mike Pence presided over the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College count, protesters and rioters outside the Capitol chanted “Hang Mike Pence” near the gallows and noose.
The videos reveal a group of people wheeling large wooden beams near the Capitol during the early morning hours of January 6. The group was seen moving materials across Union Square and near Independence Avenue, iconic areas near Capitol Hill that would later be overrun by protesters and rioters. The movement of the pieces was captured on surveillance cameras located on and near Capitol Hill, showing the assembly of the gallows between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. that day, with the crossbeam and noose added later in the afternoon as the rioting and siege of the Capitol began.
Despite the outrage sparked by the display of the gallows and noose, the investigation into who is responsible remains unsolved. A report by a Republican-led subcommittee of the House Committee on Administration identified several individuals believed to be near the assembly of the gallows, but stated that those responsible for constructing it have never been identified. A review of approximately 1,300 federal criminal cases filed by the Justice Department in relation to the January 6 events did not show any defendants accused of playing a role in the construction of the gallows.
The gallows erected near the Capitol was outfitted with a bright orange-colored rope, a color choice that may have been intentional. The orange rope, along with the noose, carried racist and threatening overtones, especially as protesters and rioters chanted to hang Vice President Mike Pence. The gallows construction and display were part of the larger siege of the Capitol on January 6, as individuals attempted to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College count.
The images captured in the surveillance videos highlight the brazenness and premeditation behind the assembly of the gallows and noose near the Capitol. The fact that those responsible for constructing such a threatening and racist symbol remain unidentified underscores the ongoing challenges in holding individuals accountable for their actions during the January 6 events. Despite the lack of progress in identifying the perpetrators, the display of the gallows and noose serves as a stark reminder of the violent and threatening nature of the events that unfolded on that day at the Capitol.
