In the days after Jessica Watkins stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 with her fellow Oath Keepers, prosecutors say, the military’s allegiance to the far-right paramilitary group has only been “calcified”.
The 38-year-old, who is accused of preparing and training for at least two months to ‘fight hand to hand’ to take over the Capitol, was concerned about the Oath Keepers’ optics after the uprising – and spoke of it. suing someone “Class-action style” who spoke out against the group.
‘If he has anything negative to say about us HOLDERS, I’ll let you know so we can charge harder. Class action style. Oath-keepers are the shit, ”texted Watkins after a media report,` `putting her behavior and that of her fellow oath-holders … in a negative light, ” according to a memo filed by prosecutors on Tuesday in support of her detention. .
“They saved the police, WE saved lives and did the right things. At the end of the day, this man better not try us. A lawsuit can even put cash in OK treasuries. He doesn’t know who he’s playing with. I will not tolerate defamation of character, mine or the patriots we served with in DC. Hooah ?! she added.
Prosecutors believe that Watkin’s continued loyalty to the Oath Keepers and the “federal crime of terrorism” she is accused of justify their request to detain her pending trial.
During her detention hearing on Tuesday, US District Judge Amit P. Mehta remained skeptical of the government’s allegations that Watkins was a flight risk that had committed a “violent crime.” He asked prosecutors for more information on whether the charge of destruction of government property qualifies as “a federal crime of terrorism.” The request postponed his decision on her detention until Friday.
“These are issues that will affect not only Ms. Watkins, but potentially dozens and dozens of others coming in the pipeline,” Mehta said.
Watkins is one of many members of the right-wing group charged with various crimes, including a conspiracy to disrupt Congress on January 6 when they gathered to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory. She reportedly trained recruits to get them in “fighting form” for another attack at the inauguration and vetted people interested in the January 6 riot to “make sure the right people” were affiliated with the Oath Keepers.
Federal authorities have described the Oath Keepers as “a large but loosely organized collection of [the] militias who believe the federal government has been co-opted by a shadowy conspiracy that seeks to deprive US citizens of their rights “and are recruiting heavily for former servicemen, law enforcement officers and first responders.
The memo comes after Watkins lawyers argued that their client should be released because she was “harshly treated” and “at particular risk in custody” because she is transgender. That filing also emphasized that she poses no threat to the public, because she stormed the Capitol only because she believed “ the President of the United States was summoning her. ”
Her lawyers also filed a letter from one of the Oath Keeper’s friends who downplayed her actions as those of an ‘idiot’ whose ‘feelings were beyond her brain’. The letter, written by an old friend identified as Zach H., emphasizes that Watkins is not a terrorist, but someone who has unfortunately been “brainwashed by those deeply rooted in conspiratorial beliefs.”
“I don’t believe she is not at all responsible for her actions – nor do I believe she should or want to be – but I urge the court from my humble place as a commoner to show the grace that I know Americans are capable of, ”says the letter submitted Monday night.
Prosecutors note that Watkins’ defense ignores the many well-described actions she, along with other Oath Keeper members and associates, took in an effort to forcibly stop the 2020 Electoral College Vote’s certification.
She further notes that detention rests “ on whether she is likely to commit other crimes if released pending trial, ” but still believes the crimes she committed – the evidence of which is “ admittedly strong ” – were legal and in accordance with its oath to support the constitution, ”the memo says.
As thousands of MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol, Watkins and her militia were clearly visible in photos and videos as they marched tightly in an “organized row up the stairs on the east side of the Capitol, wearing combat helmets, body armor and gloves.” with knuckle guards and radios, ”the prosecutors claim.
“Me before I entered the Capitol. #stopthesteal #stormthecapitol #oathkeepers #ohiomilitia, ”Watkins captioned a photo she posted of herself on Parler, the memo said.
While Watkins insists she did not “ intend to destroy property and even told others not to engage in such behavior, ” she has provided no explanation for videos showing her with the rioters breaking through the Capitol or the months-long planning involved. she undertook to have. armed militias are waiting nearby.
Prosecutors consider Watkins a flight risk because she has suggested she is willing to “go underground like this coup” [Biden election] to work.”
“There are no conditions or combination of conditions that reasonably protect the safety of the community or the [Watkin’s] submission to the authority of this Court if it sees the actions of our leaders or this Court as contradictory to its understanding of its duties under the Constitution, ”the memo concluded. “Release may be the norm, but the [Watkin’s] actions and the beliefs that inspired her pose a unique threat to our democratic way of life. “