The arrests came in sequence across a six-hour window. By 6 AM, all five were in custody. By 7 AM, all five were in separate federal holding rooms and all five had asked for their phones.
***
Senator Howard Pierce had represented Virginia for nineteen years. He had sat on Armed Services, Intelligence, and Judiciary simultaneously at his peak. He had shaped legislation, buried legislation, and on three separate occasions had made calls that ended careers before breakfast.
He communicated all of this to the arresting agents before they reached the vehicle.
"Do you have any idea who I am?" His voice was steady. "Do you understand the relationships you're disrupting? The people I can reach before this vehicle leaves my driveway?"
The lead agent opened the rear door. "Watch your head, Senator."
Pierce watched his head and got in, still talking.
