A North Texas man who is known as the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers was arrested Thursday in connection to the breach of the U.S. Capitol last January.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 11 people with seditious conspiracy and other charges connected to the Capitol attack.
Oath Keepers leaders Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, 56, of Granbury, was arrested Thursday morning in Little Elm, according to a Justice Department news release.
A 63-year-old Arizona man, Edward Vallejo, was arrested Thursday as well.
The others named in the indictment are nine previously charged defendants and include one othe North Texas man. They are Thomas Caldwell, 67, of Berryville, Virginia; Joseph Hackett, 51, of Sarasota, Florida; Kenneth Harrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida; Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama; Kelly Meggs, 52, of Dunnellon, Florida; Roberto Minuta, 37, of Prosper, Texas; David Moerschel, 44, of Punta Gorda, Florida; Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia, and Jessica Watkins, 39, of Woodstock, Ohio. In addition to earlier charges filed against them, they now face additional counts of seditious conspiracy and other offenses, federal authorities said in the release.
“Eight other individuals affiliated with the Oath Keepers, all previously charged in the investigation, remain as defendants in two related cases. All defendants — except Rhodes and Vallejo — previously were charged in a superseding indictment,” the news release from the Department of Justice said. “The superseding indictment has now effectively been split into three parts: the 11-defendant seditious conspiracy case, a seven-defendant original case, and a third case against one of the previously charged defendants.”
According to the indictments, the Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. “Though the Oath Keepers will accept anyone as members, they explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement, and first-responder personnel,” the release said.
Eighteen of 19 defendants connected to the three indictments are facing charges of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiring to prevent an officer of the United States from discharging a duty. Eleven individuals were charged with seditious conspiracy.
“The seditious conspiracy indictment alleges that, following the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election, Rhodes conspired with his co-defendants and others to oppose by force the execution of the laws governing the transfer of presidential power by Jan. 20, 2021,” the news release said. “Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, Rhodes and various co-conspirators coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021 … [and] made plans to bring weapons to the area to support the operation.”
The group allegedly organized teams to transport firearms, knives, batons, camouflage combat uniforms, helmets, radio equipment and eye protection to the Capitol, alongside recruiting members and training paramilitary combat tactics in an attempt to take control of the area on Jan. 6.
Rhodes reportedly entered a restricted area of the Capitol and told others to meet him around 2 p.m. that day.
Various Oath Keepers, and affiliates, wore paramilitary uniforms with patches with the Oath Keepers name, logo, and insignia, the news release said. The individuals “marched in a ‘stack’ formation up the east steps of the Capitol, joined a mob, and made their way into the Capitol,” the release said.
A second “stack” soon followed suit, marching from the west side to the east side of the Capitol building, authorities said.
“While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams,” the Department of Justice said. “According to the indictment, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power.”
Individuals, including Rhodes, may face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the seditious conspiracy charge.
Since the attack last January, over 725 people were charged and arrested in connection to the Capitol breach. Over 225 of those arrested face charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Investigations remain ongoing.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 1:55 PM.
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“Seditious conspiracy”—that sounds like the “investigative committee”.
IT sounds like EVERYTING THE DEMS have done to us, to undermine our nation…
What a shame that it was the Democrat conspirators now in office to be the first to strike by arresting their political enemies for fake conspiracies all the while their own minions are guilty as sin. Trump should have had Hillary incarcerated 10 minutes after he took office. In the case of sedition, it is he who hesitates that get lost. Of course Joe’s corrupted Justice department must go after people like OATH KEEPERS and PROMISE KEEPERS, because they all make him and his administration look bad, having broken every oath and promise they ever made BEFORE the last election. Just watch the corruption in action as all the wrong people go to jail under Biden’s watch while all the Epstein morality infused Democrats all walk free and more Benghazi’s pop up faster and more furious than you can say “Afghanistan Bananastan”.
We all knew that as soon as it was known that NOBODY was arrested for seditious related charges, that the treasonous Democrats would fabricate seditious related charges against somebody.
Nancy Pelosi admitted an unfortunate truth about her
Orchestrate and fabricated impeachment “farce”
– It hinges on witness’s “allegations” not “proof”.
It’s Not A Question” Of “Proof”, It’s About “Allegations”
https://youtu.be/7dzhIxeF204
This treasonous, dishonorable, dishonest, non-credible, immoral, socialist Democrat Party has become our country’s most destructive and deadliest ENEMY!
YET< BLM and Antifa, who literally tried to burn DOWN COURT houses, and cop shops and the like, OFTEN TRYING TO DO SO, after trapping folks inside, THEY ARE NOT under charges for a DAMN SINGLE THING…
Where is the damn GOP and why are they not putting an end to this ?!?
If anyone should be in prison it is Shrillary, Obama, Biden, Commie, Schiff, ect.
Where is the damn GOP and why are they not putting an end to this ?!?
The Democrats control both Houses of Congress. At issue here is the House of Representatives controlled by Nancy Pelosi who chose not to allow the GOP to appoint it’s own members to this farce of a committee. Instead she appointed the two RINOs, Cheney and Kinsinger.
Holding the majority is important. Blame the voters who chose to pack the House with Democrats.
Now, if someone knows more about this than I do how about sharing your magic method to stop this committee.
inluminatuo, I agree with you wholeheartedly on Trump. Trump was the best President I have had for domestic and foreign policy, but he failed, in that he did not go after the people that committed treason against his Presidency. As a result, the cancer of Washington DC spread. President Trump should have never allowed his Department of No Justice go after him (Trump) for Russia collusion and he should have had the traitors like Clinton, the corrupt DOJ and the corrupt FBI thrown in prison for treason against his Presidency.
Many of us have long said, HIS BIGGEST MISTAKE, was not clearing house at the FBI and Dept of injustice, DAY ONE!