Heavy metal guitarist with ties to Oath Keepers is the first riot in the American Capitol to admit guilt

Heavy metal guitarist with ties to Oath Keepers is the first riot in the American Capitol to admit guilt

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Jon Ryan Schaffer pleaded guilty to obstructing an official process and entering a building with a dangerous weapon. He admitted that he carried bear spray into the Capitol complex during the formal certification of the Electoral College.

One hundred days after the January 6 attack, Schaffer is now the first pro-Trump riot to admit guilt and admit his crimes.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer is described as a ‘founding member of the life’ of the Oath Keepers, although his lawyers have previously claimed in court that he does not know much about the paramilitary group.

As part of the agreement, Schaffer also acknowledges that ‘the belief that the election college result is fraudulent is not a legitimate justification’ to storm the Capitol complex.

Prosecutors and Schaffer’s attorneys agreed to recommend that he receive between 3.5 and 4.5 years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation with the government is. The sentencing will eventually be taken by federal judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case.

Many of the accused in the Capitol riots were interested in pleading guilty and trying to move on with their lives. But the plea agreements and potential co-operation agreements were delayed, while prosecutors waited in senior sections of the justice department.

Schaffer’s plea was made official during a hearing that was quickly arranged in the district court in DC.

One hundred days after the American Capitol uprising, progress and barriers are seen in the great federal investigation

Cooperation with prosecutors

As part of the plea agreement, Schaffer agreed, according to court proceedings, to cooperate with investigators and possibly testify in related criminal cases. In exchange for Schaffer’s help, the Justice Department may later request the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

Recent court documents have revealed that Schaffer met with federal investigators last month for a number of “interrogation interviews”.

Investigators were likely asking for information about the Oath Keepers, the far-right paramilitary group with a dozen members accused of conspiracy. Schaffer wore an “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member” hat in the Capitol, but his lawyers said he bought the hat from a fan.

Some laws used against Capitol rioters have never been used as of now to direct individual members of a mob on federal grounds. Some defendants dispute the Department of Justice’s interpretation of these laws, and Mehta referred to possible ‘legal challenges along the way’, while questioning prosecutors about the details of Schaffer’s landmark.

Schaffer was initially charged with six federal crimes. He was ordered to remain in jail while his case moves through the court system because a magistrate’s judge was concerned about his potential ties to Oath Keepers extremists and the fact that he brought bear spray to the Capitol.

Some members of his group in Indiana apparently stopped protesting about his role in the attack.

The Department of Justice announced the guilty plea over the 100-day point of the attack on Capitol.

“The FBI has carried out an average of more than four arrests a day on average seven days a week since January 6,” Acting Deputy Attorney General John Carlin said in a statement Friday. “I commend the hundreds of special agents, prosecutors and support staff who have worked tirelessly for the past 100 days to bring to justice those who have committed criminal acts.”

This story has been updated with details of the plea agreement.

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