Treasurer Josh Frydenberg labels anti-Semitic messaging at Capitol riots ‘disgusting’ and ‘truly frightening’

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the anti-Semitic messages being brandished during the storming of Capitol Hill were “truly frightening”. Four people died during the Capitol Hill riots in Washington earlier this month, which aimed to disrupt the formal acknowledgement of Mr Biden's election victory. Donald Trump has since been faced with impeachment for his role in inciting the violence, when he urged his supporters to “fight much harder” for victory over the democrats at a Save America rally. Many of the rioters who took up arms wore QAnon shirts, while others wore clothing that was emblazoned with “Camp Auschwitz” text, and “"work brings freedom”. Mr Frydenberg says the anti-Semitic messages were “disgusting”. “To see that in the nation of the United States, in their capital, was truly frightening,” he said on ABC. “I think it should for all of us send a very chilling message that we need to redouble our efforts to ensure we say never again.” It comes as the Morrison Government today committed $750,000 to fund a holocaust museum in Canberra. Mr Frydenberg did not address Mr Trump’s role in inciting the violence, with Scott Morrison also not condemning the former President by name in his comments on the riots. The acting head of US Capitol security apologised for “failings” during the deadly attack on the building by followers of then-president Donald Trump in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. She specifically acknowledged a number of missteps: conflicting intelligence, inadequate preparation and insufficient mobilisation of partner agencies, and called for improving accountability systems and communications structures. “I am here to offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of the department,” said Yolanda Pittman, the acting chief of Capitol Police, according to a prepared statement for the US House of Representatives’ appropriations committee. “The department failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours.” The top federal prosecutor investigating the violent breach of the US Capitol says he expects indictments will be handed down as soon as this week, as the FBI works to track down more than 400 suspects in the sprawling investigation. More than 135 people have been arrested in connection with the January 6 breach, which left five people dead and sent members of Congress rushing to safety, Acting US Attorney Michael Sherwin told a news briefing on Tuesday. The vast majority of the suspects to date were arrested on criminal complaints, which serve as a placeholder that allow the government to build a criminal case until it can be presented to a grand jury. A person cannot be convicted solely on a criminal complaint in federal court. To date, only a handful of indictments have been returned against the more than 100 people charged with a range of crimes, from minor trespassing offences to more serious allegations such as assault on police officers and conspiracy charges. “We’re continuing to build the evidence related to these charges,” Sherwin said. “The individuals that were charged via the federal criminal complaints will then be indicted in the very near future to include this week.” The FBI is investigating whether groups of people may have plotted in advance to storm the Capitol, and Sherwin said he expected some would be facing seditious conspiracy charges. With Reuters