Prosecutors urged members of a jury to convict Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and 4 others for his or her roles in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they shaped an “armed revolt” to disrupt the peaceable switch of energy.
“They concocted a plan for an armed revolt to shatter a bedrock of American democracy,” prosecutor Jeff Nestler mentioned on Monday in a gap assertion at their trial in federal courtroom in Washington, D.C.
Rhodes informed his followers through the strategy planning stage that “it will likely be torches and pitchforks time in the event that they [Congress] do not do the proper factor,” based on a message he despatched to his followers that was proven to the jury by prosecutors.
Rhodes and his co-defendants, Kelly Meggs, Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins and Kenneth Harrelson, are accused of plotting to forcefully forestall the U.S. Congress from certifying Democratic President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in a failed bid to maintain then-president Donald Trump, a Republican, in energy.
Nestler mentioned that on election day, Nov. 3, Meggs had informed his spouse, Connie, who’s criminally charged in a separate case, “I am gonna go on a killing spree. Pelosi first.” It was a reference to Home of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest Democrat in Congress.
Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol after Trump falsely claimed the election had been stolen from him via widespread fraud. 5 folks died throughout and shortly after the riot, and about 140 law enforcement officials had been injured.
Case for seditious conspiracy
The 5 on trial face quite a few felony expenses, together with seditious conspiracy —a Civil Conflict-era statute that’s not often prosecuted and carries a statutory most sentence of 20 years in jail.
Prosecutors have mentioned the 5 defendants skilled and deliberate for Jan. 6 and stockpiled weapons at a northern Virginia resort exterior the capital for a “fast response drive” that may be prepared if referred to as upon to move arms into Washington.
As lawmakers met on Jan. 6 to certify Biden’s election victory, some Oath Keepers charged into the Capitol constructing, clad in paramilitary gear. They don’t seem to be accused of carrying firearms onto Capitol grounds.
The federal government has characterised the Oath Keepers as a far-right anti-government group, a few of whose members have ties to militias. A few of the members embrace present and former navy and regulation enforcement personnel.
Founder says it is a non-partisan group
Rhodes, a Yale-educated lawyer and former U.S. military paratrooper, has disputed the authorities’s characterization, saying it is a non-partisan group whose members have pledged to defend the U.S. Structure.
Philip Linder, one among Rhodes’s legal professionals, promised the jury his shopper, whom he described as “extraordinarily patriotic,” would take the stand to elucidate his facet of the story.
He mentioned the “actual proof” within the trial will present that the defendants had been in Washington on Jan. 5 and 6 to supply safety to quite a lot of audio system at political rallies.
‘Who’s prepared to die?’ textual content message
In opening statements on Monday, nevertheless, federal prosecutors painted a special image. They confirmed movies, texts and different posts by defendants from earlier than, throughout and after the Capitol assault.
Watkins, one of many defendants, informed members of her native Ohio chapter that “I want you preventing match by [inauguration],” whereas Meggs informed followers from the Florida Oath Keepers that “the time for discuss is over. The true query is who’s prepared to DIE?” based on textual content messages proven by the prosecution.
On the day of the assault, Nestler mentioned Watkins led a bunch of seven Oath Keepers towards the Senate facet of the Capitol.
As she stormed down the hallway with the “energy of the mob along with her,” Nestler mentioned she yelled “Push, push, push!”
He mentioned that Watkins added: “They cannot maintain us.”
Defendants Meggs and Harrelson, in the meantime, led a bunch of seven Oath Keepers towards the Home of Representatives facet of the Capitol, the place Nestler mentioned they seemed particularly for Pelosi.
Though Trump’s shadow will loom giant over the trial, he isn’t anticipated to be a central determine within the case.
U.S. District Decide Amit Mehta, who’s presiding over the trial, beforehand restricted the defendants from utilizing a “public authority” defence, which means they can not declare they stormed the Capitol at Trump’s route.
Originally published at San Diego News HQ
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