Federal prosecutors announced charges against nine members of the Oath Keepers militia, including six who were recently arrested and charged with conspiracy in the United States on Friday. Capitol relSeven of the group were part of a tactical “pile” of people dressed in combat gear who pushed through the crowd to enter the Capitol, the government said.
The nine were indicted by a grand jury on allegations that included conspiracy, obstruction of official proceedings, and limited construction or site costs.
Prosecutors say the group used military-style tactics – holding hands behind each other’s backs to communicate as they entered the building – and coordinated with other Oath Keepers before and during the attack, using apps such as MeWe and Zello.
The six charged Friday are Ohio residents Sandra Parker, 60, and Bennie Parker, 70, and Florida residents, Kelly Meggs, 52, Connie Meggs, 59, and Graydon Young, 54, and Laura Steele , 52, resident of North Carolina. Thomas Caldwell, 65, Jessica Watkins, 38, and Donovan Crowl, 50, were also indicted in Friday’s new indictment, although the three were indicted by a grand jury back in January.
The Oath Keepers are a loosely organized collection of militias, prosecutors say, focused on recruiting current and former servicemen, law enforcement officers and first-responders. The group believes the federal government has been “ co-opted by a shadowy conspiracy seeking to deprive US citizens of their rights, ” prosecutors say, and the group’s name comes from the oath of members of the military and police to the Constitution. “of all enemies, foreign and domestic”.
The complaint describes an email sent January 4 by oathkeepers.org with the subject line: “Call to Action: Deploy Oath Keepers in DC to Protect Events, Speakers and Attendees January 5-6: Time to Stand! ” The email noted that the group would have “ well-armed and equipped QRF teams ready, ” referring to the military acronym for “ rapid response force, ” in the case of a scenario “ where the president is calling us on as part of the militia to [sic] help him in DC. ”
The email also stated, “As always, while we conduct security operations, we will have some of our men in ‘gray man’ mode, with no identifiable Oath Keepers gear on. For every Oath Keeper you see, there are at least two you don ‘t see. “
Prosecutors said that on Jan. 3, Steele sent a five-page document that looked like an online filing to the Florida Oath Keepers. In the document, she wrote, “I have 13 years of law enforcement experience in North Carolina. I have served as a K-9 officer and a SWAT team member. I currently work for Private Armed Security. [company name redacted]I am a licensed PPS through the North Carolina Private Protective Services. “
Seven members of the group, including Watkins and Crowl, stayed at the same hotel the night before the attack. In the days leading up to Jan. 6, Watkins, the self-appointed commander of the Ohio State Regular Militia, sent messages to people she labeled as recruits on her phone, including Bennie Parker. She advised Parker to pack khaki pants and told him where to meet on January 6.
The group drew attention to their tactical “stack” formation, which experts quickly identified as a military-style strategy, and was a top priority for the US attorney’s incendiary task force.