But court records show that the vast majority of the roughly 650 people federally charged in the riot were not part of far-right groups or premeditated conspiracies to attack the Capitol. Rather, many were an array of everyday Americans that included community leaders, small-business owners, teachers and yoga instructors. One wore his work badge, another a jacket with his phone number on the back. About 573 have no known affiliation with an extremist group, according to a Post analysis of court filings and public records as of Nov 3. Federal prosecutors have not identified serious criminal records in the cases of most suspects, although at least a dozen defendants have been accused or convicted of domestic violence…

A law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said that while many in the FBI underestimated the desperation, anger and conspiratorial nature of the crowd, the evidence gathered to date shows the vast majority of participants “didn’t have a plan” to overthrow the government: “They didn’t know what they were doing. A lot of them didn’t even know where they were going. But they had a message, and the message was, the pitchfork people will show up again, and you need to be afraid of us.”…

Video evidence indicates that nearly 140 officers collectively weathered 1,000 assaults, according to prosecutors. Nine months after the attack, an FBI website showed photographs of about 350 suspects who have not been arrested for Capitol violence. Of more than 130 people charged with assaulting, resisting and impeding police, less than 10 are purported to be affiliated with or identify as members of organized groups such as the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys, according to a Post review of arrests and court documents. Small, angry groups formed one large mob in mere minutes, joined by common purpose.