Federal prosecutors have charged six members of the Oath Keepers militia, who have added the government as co-defendants to an existing indictment for three alleged Eat Holders. Seven of the group were part of a tactical “stack” of people dressed in combat gear pushed through the crowd to enter the Capitol, the government said.
The nine were indicted by a grand jury on charges that included conspiracy to obstruct, influence or obstruct an official process, destruction of property and limited costs. In the charge sheet, two men are also accused of obstructing the investigation.
Prosecutors say the group wore paramilitary equipment and used military-style tactics – to keep each other on their backs to communicate as they advanced up the Capitol’s stairs – and before and during the attack with other Oath Guards coordinated by programs such as MeWe and Zello to use. .
The six charged Friday are residents of Sandra Parker (60) and Bennie Parker (70) and residents of Florida Kelly Meggs (52), Connie Meggs (59) and Graydon Young (54) and Laura Steele (52) in North Carolina. Thomas Caldwell (65), Jessica Watkins (38) and Donovan Crowl (50) are also included in Friday’s new indictment, although the three were already charged by a large jury in January.
The charge of the oath is a collection of loosely organized militias, focusing on recruiting current and former military, law enforcers and first responders. The group believes the federal government “was co-opted by a shadowy conspiracy that seeks to strip US citizens of their rights,” prosecutors said, and the group’s name comes from the oath of military members and law enforcement around the Constitution “of all enemies, foreign and domestic. “
The complaint contains an email sent on January 4 from oathkeepers.org, with the subject line: “Call to action: oath-keepers going to DC on January 5-6 to protect events, speakers and participants: time to to stand! ” The email notes that the group would have ‘well-armed and well-equipped QRF teams on standby’, referring to the military acronym for ‘rapid reaction force’, in case of a ‘scenario’ where the president calls us as part of the militia to [sic] help him are DC. ‘
The email also states: “As always, we will exercise some of our men in ‘gray man’ mode without wearing identifiable oath-takers. For every oath-keeper you see, there are at least two that you do not wear. you can not see. “
Prosecutors described the group’s coordination before the attack. Kelly Meggs, the self-described leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, allegedly arranged combat and firearms training for himself and others in Florida. Sandra and Bennie Parker traveled with Watkins and Crowl from Ohio to Washington, DC and discussed their plans in the weeks leading up to the attack.
Prosecutors say Meggs, who is a general manager at a car dealership, wrote in a Facebook message: ‘Trump said it’s going to be wild !!!!!!! It’s going to be wild !!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD this is what he says. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild !!! Sir Yes Sir !!! Gentlemen we are on our way to DC to pack our *** !! “
On January 3, Steele sent a five-page document that turned out to be an online application to the Oath Keepers of Florida. In the document, she wrote: “I have 13 years of experience in law enforcement in North Carolina. I was a K-9 officer and a SWAT team member. I currently work for Private Armed Security for [company name redacted]. I am a licensed PPS through the Private Protection Services of North Carolina. ‘
Seven members of the group, including Watkins and Crowl, were staying at the same hotel the night before the attack. In the days leading up to Jan. 6, Watkins, the self-proclaimed commander of the Ohio State Regular Militia, sent messages to people she described on her phone as recruits – including Bennie Parker. She advised Parker to pack khaki or brown pants, advised him to “take good” weapons and to bring a convoy to Rally Point in Virginia on January 5th.
When Parker expressed his concern about safety and parking, she replied, “Parking is no problem. If you go with the militia, we have a protected Rally Point.”
The group drew attention to their tactical “stack” formation, which experts quickly identified as a military strategy, and which was a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s call task.
Watkins sent a message to Parker on Jan. 9: ‘I followed the FBI list, it looks like they’re just interested in people destroying things. I will not worry about them coming after us. ‘