Barr: DOJ ‘cast their net far too broadly’ on prosecuting Jan. 6 rioters

Former Attorney General Bill Barr has argued that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is casting its net “too wide” when it comes to prosecuting rioters involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

“Well, like everything else the left does, I think they went too far.” Barr told Fox News' Neil Cavuto on Saturday.

“I think there were people involved on January 6th, especially the people who attacked the police and broke into the Capitol, and there were people who should be prosecuted, but they cast their net too wide and went after people. 'I think he's there.' He was really just wandering around trying to get into the open doors of the Capitol,” Barr continued.

Barr, who served as attorney general for former President George H.W. “I don't consider it a riot,” he said.

“This is clearly a shameful incident and some of those involved should be prosecuted,” he said.

Barr's comments come after rioters from a “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., marched on the Capitol at President Trump's direction and joined in the riot aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election. It came out exactly three years later.

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In the three years since the attack, about 1,000 rioters have pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes ranging from felonies such as seditious conspiracy and assaulting a police officer to misdemeanors such as trespassing.

The Hill previously reported that more than 1,200 people were charged with federal crimes in the insurrection.

Prosecutors are still searching for suspects in the case, the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history, and are asking for the public's help in identifying at least 80 people.

A federal court ruled Friday that rioters who were passive during the attack could be convicted of disorderly conduct.

At least 20 defendants are seeking to have their cases stayed until the Supreme Court decides whether the obstruction charges used to prosecute the rioters were lawfully applied by the Justice Department. Some have asked for a suspension of future hearings, while others have already been sentenced and want to be released.