Well before Capitol riot, Trump last year advocated punishment for monument vandals

Months before the lawlessness that occurred Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol, President Trump signed an executive order related to federal monuments and property.

"It is the policy of the United States to prosecute to the fullest extent permitted under Federal law, and as appropriate, any person or any entity that destroys, damages, vandalizes, or desecrates a monument, memorial, or statue within the United States or otherwise vandalizes government property," part of the order said. Federal law allows as much as 10 years imprisonment for the perpetrators of "willful injury of Federal property," the order stated.

"I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues - and combatting recent Criminal Violence," Trump tweeted on June 26, according to Fox News. "Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country!"

Now at the beginning of 2021, authorities are seeking to hold accountable those involved in the breach of the U.S. Capitol building that captured national attention on Wednesday.

"The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law," acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a Jan. 7 statement.

Rosen's statement did not mention the executive order that the president signed in June 2020.