I'm hardly a poster child for white supremacy. When White Folks Riot, Nothing. "[150] On Hardball with Chris Matthews, Matthews questioned Rhodes about his "vigilante group" and on his "strange view of the world. In cases of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction. Washington A former Oath Keeper testified in court on Monday that he came to Washington, D.C. with other members of the far-right militia ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to impede the . See additional information. Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers, is pictured in Forth Worth, Texas, on Feb. 28. Amplifying Fears of the Deep State: Though the Oath Keepers espouse an anti-government ideology, the Oath Keepers largely support President Trump and his administration. Nestler told the jury that the evidence would show Rhodes was urging the Oath Keepers to keep talking about the Insurrection Act merely as legal cover or plausible deniability for their determination to violently prevent the certification of Bidens election win. According to Zimmerman, Rhodes suggested that they attend the march dressed as elderly, vulnerable people, carrying canes and the like, to bait counterprotesters like antifa and BLM to attack them. So, yes, the evidence of guilt is quite strong. Prior to his arrest, Dyer had posted a YouTube video in which Dyer, a former Marine, said, Join the military? The Oath Keepers claim it is their mission to protect Trump Rally attendees and provide them escorts to and from their vehicles. The charges followed a March 2011 vehicle stop by the Worcester Police Department due to an invalid license plate and driving with excessive speed. All three testified that what they saw and heard from Rhodes and other Oath Keepers so disturbed them that they left the organization and eventually shared what they knew with law enforcement. In addition to Rhodes, ten other Oath Keepers nine of whom were already facing conspiracy charges relating to the attack were charged with seditious conspiracy, and these individuals are the first to face seditious conspiracy charges for conduct arising from the January 6 insurrection. [130], In August 2015, four members of the group appeared again on the streets of Ferguson, following peaceful street demonstrations on the anniversary of Brown's shooting. Countering Black Lives Matter: Some of the Oath Keepers most notable mobilizations have occurred in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. In late January, Caldwell was charged along with two other alleged Oath Keepers, 38-year-old Jessica Watkins and Donovan Ray Crowl, both of Ohio. Samuel Corum/GI. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Jessica Watkins (R) Oath Keeper from Woodstock, Ohio was charged with conspiracy, obstruction, and sedition for her role in the military stack formation that broke into the capitol yelling "They can't hold us.". Oath Keepers members have not limited their activities to spouting extreme antigovernment conspiracy theories as a number of people associated with the Oath Keepers have been involved in criminal incidents since its founding in 2009. August 20, 2015. [78], On November 23, 2021, Stewart Rhodes and the Nevada-incorporated[32] Oath Keepers entity were subpoenaed by the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Rogers is a state senator in Arizona, first elected in 2020. The far-right Oath Keepers who call New Jersey home Militia organization has at least 550 alleged members in New Jersey By Joey Fox, July 12 2022 6:42 pm The Oath Keepers were instrumental in the January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. But when proof of guilt is strong, it is entirely usual for defense attorneys to attack the investigators. The News previously identified Greco as being in Washington the day before the insurrection and that morning. "They are not white supremacist. Though the Oath Keepers will accept anyone as members, what differentiates them from other anti-government extremist groups is their explicit focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement and first responder personnel. During today's testimonials for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a former spokesman for the far-right militia Oath Keepers delivered his statements while sporting a T-shirt for punk . Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesman for far-right . More recently, the Oath Keepers have offered armed security to individuals attending Trump Rallies, Free Speech rallies and other pro-Trump events. In May 2012, a federal judge in Knoxville sentenced Huff to four years in prison. The evidence of guilt is remarkably strong, the defenses offered are just as weak, and witness testimony even offers some reason for hope beyond this case. Descendents took to social media on Tuesday (July 12) to publicly distance themselves from far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers after their name got dragged into the . For many years now, the focus on extremist groups in America has increased, with some making quite a name for themselves. Most research determined the Oath Keeper membership to be approximately 5,000 members, while leaked data showed Oath Keepers' rosters claiming membership of 38,000. founded in 2009, the year barack obama became president, oath keepers bills itself as a group of current and former military, police, fire and emergency medical personnel and their supporters. Stoking fears of Black Lives Matter as part of Marxist NWO program: Oath Keepers have framed the civil rights movement that emerged following the death of George Floyd as part of a Marxist agenda that they allege is being used to destroy the United States. He warned about a possible Benghazi-style attack targeting President Trump and said that the Oath Keepers will be stationing its best men outside of Washington, D.C. around the election because they are anticipating the government to enable a coup against Trump. If you were awake and watched rain fall from the sky, that constitutes direct evidence. Jim Urquhart/Reuters. Founder Stewart Rhodes is a former Montana attorney and Army veteran who acts as the groups main spokesperson. "[140] Following the deaths during protests in Kenosha and the George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon, Rhodes referred to antifa and Black Lives Matter protestors as attempting an "open Communist insurrection". Research on their membership determined that two-thirds of the Oath Keepers are former military or law enforcement, and one tenth are active duty military or law enforcement. Crowd members eventually forced their way through, up, and over Capitol Police barricades and advanced to the building's exterior faade. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps. We will NOT obey orders to disarm the American people. ", The Oath Keeper motto is Not on our watch!. While there is a formal national leadership, on the local level many Oath Keepers are essentially selforganized, and form official, semiofficial or informal groupings of Oath Keepers. Members of the Oath Keepers have been arrested in connection with a wide range of criminal activities, including various firearms violations, conspiracy to impede federal workers, possession of explosives, and threatening public officials. Rhodes added that if Trump failed to do so, the Oath Keepers would arm themselves and take matters into their own hands. So they're saying that these Oath Keepers actually planned beforehand to go and storm the Capitol building. Simply stated, the mission of the Oath Keepers is to protect the . Three veterans ultimately put patriotism and respect for American democracy above whatever drove them to join an organization like the Oath Keepers. Providing Security: The Oath Keepers frequently solicit volunteers to provide security in a variety of different contexts. The attorney for Jessica Watkins admitted that the video evidence against her was damning, including conceding that Watkins stormed the Capitol and was caught on video saying, We took the fing Capitol. But he tried to suggest she might have had mixed motives on Jan. 6, pointing to Watkins taking medical supplies to help folks who may have been injured that day. But that's funny too. While they do not actively recruit civilians, they do offer them the option of supporting their efforts as Associate Members. The Republican state senators had gone into hiding to prevent a vote on a cap-and-trade proposal aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in order to combat climate change. It was their alternate home jersey in the first three seasons, but interestingly for the last season they made it their sole home jersey. He eventually reached a plea deal on local charges against him, pleading no contest to one charge in exchange for the state dropping other charges. According to the charging documents, Rhodes and other Oath . Their membership is made up of all races. Glenn Kirschner, a former assistant U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., is an NBC News and MSNBC legal analyst. Rhodes insists the government wants to track gun owners like it does sex offenders and uses mass shooting incidents as an excuse to violate Second Amendment rights. Brentwood, New Hampshire, February 2013: Federal authorities charged open carry activist and Oath Keeper Johnathon Irish with five felonies stemming from an investigation into the alleged sales of homemade assault rifles to undercover agents. The Oath Keepers seem to be trying to resolve this tension by focusing their confrontational tactics primarily on various federal law enforcement agencies, while often siding with local law enforcement officers in other controversies. Indeed, after Nestler alerted the jurors to this fact, the opening statement from Rhodes attorney fell flat when he suggested that the Insurrection Act angle was a legitimate defense to the indicted charges. He also admitted to persuading his girlfriend to purchase assault rifle parts for him in order to avoid a background check. Browse top posts for May 4, 2022 - Page 74. No, you cant make this stuff up. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und seine Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. About the perceived failure of the government's response to the unrest, the organization's founder, Stewart Rhodes, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "We thought they were going to do it right this time, but when Monday rolled around and they didn't park the National Guard at these businesses, that's when we said we have got to do something." [63], Three suspected members of Oath Keepers were federally indicted in January for conspiracy for planning their activities during the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol with six more being added to the indictment in February. World Class Spa. [16] Under Rhodes's leadership in 2013, they instructed its members to form "Citizen Preservation" teams, which included militias, to operate in communities across the country meant to defend Americans against the government intentionally letting the country descend into chaos then declaring martial law and scrapping the constitution, stating that "They are preparing to control and contain us, and to shoot us, but not preparing to feed us. "Oath Keepers. The organization has publicly labeled lockdown measures Orwellian violations of liberty and urges their members to defy these measures. In 2012, he was convicted of raping his seven-year-old daughter. When executing a search warrant, law enforcement officers discovered a live napalm bomb and dozens of other explosives in a storage locker; he eventually was indicted on 97 different charges, including 18 counts of unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, 23 counts of receiving stolen property, 23 counts of possession of criminal tools, 10 counts of failure to secure dangerous ordnance, one count of perjury, and 21 counts of pandering obscenity involving child pornography. When Black And Latinx Folks Riot, All Hell Breaks Loose. Virginia Lobby Day: On January 20, 2020, the Virginia Civilians Defense League (VCDL), hosted a gun rights Lobby Day on the steps of the state capitol in Richmond, Virginia, where a reported 22,000 people demonstrated, including various militia groups and other right-wing extremists. [119] He posted on the Oath Keepers' website in what he termed a National Call to Action: "Oath Keepers, in the wake of the horrific attack it is time to step up nationwide and defend our schools against the threat of mass murder. In response to various controversial shootings by and of police since 2014, most Oath Keepers have sided with law enforcement against activist groups like Black Lives Matter. Rarely in my 30 years as a prosecutor have I seen a case with as much direct evidence of guilt as this trial. The committee's belief was that members of the organization have information about the preparations of the event, and what led to the ensuing violence. The third military veteran to testify, Adams, like the two others, testified that he left the organization before January 2021 because of the Oath Keepers undemocratic and violent rhetoric, including Rhodes threat to have the Oath Keepers take up arms if Trump failed to stop Biden from becoming president. For example, the Oath Keepers believe that a UN Small Arms Treaty will be implemented to bypass the second Amendment and prohibit firearms. [138], Mike Giglio of The Atlantic reported that at a July 2020 meeting at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Rutherford County, Tennessee, founder Rhodes, speaking of the events of the racial unrest in the United States that year, said that antifa and other protesters "are insurrectionists, and we have to suppress that insurrection" and that "eventually they're going to be using IEDs" and consequently "us old vets and younger ones are going to end up having to kill these young kids and they're going to die believing they were fighting Nazis. As the second week of the seditious conspiracy prosecution of five members of the Oath Keepers organization begins in federal district court in Washington, there are three main takeaways from the first week from the perspective of someone who prosecuted conspiracy cases in that very same courthouse: The evidence of guilt is remarkably strong, the defenses offered are just as weak, and already witness testimony offers some reason for hope beyond this case. The Serbia-born scientist told TPM that he had not met Rhodes or any Oath Keepers in person since arriving in Texas, emphasizing that their contact was limited. United States Department of Justice January 12, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oath_Keepers&oldid=1119803650. [91] On May 4, 2022, he pled guilty to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding, for his part in the, Joshua James, of Arab, Alabama, head of the Alabama chapter, provided security for right-wing figures such as. In the days before a pro-Trump mob including members of his own organization broke into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 . At the beginning of the pandemic, Oath Keepers used COVID-19 to spread fear to their followers, warning that the virus was worse than government officials were saying and pushing people to do whatever they needed to do to remain safe themselves since the government would be unable to help them. Toms Diniz Santos is a writer living in Orlando, Florida. Some are heard on audio recordings bragging that they took the Capitol. Prosecutors have introduced written communications between and among the defendants discussing their plans for Jan. 6, which involved amassing a veritable arsenal of weapons in a motel in Virginia ready to be used at the Capitol. . Importantly, defendants never have the burden of proof at criminal trials. UPDATE: On January 13, 2022, federal authorities arrested Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes on charges of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Buchanan himself concluded that "America was once their country. Members of the group were also accused of posing as security guards without a license. The oath referred to in their name refers to Article VI of the US Constitution, which affirms the place of the federal Constitution as the ultimate authority to be obeyed and defended, above and beyond any one political figure or party and any one state's constitution and laws. Community Preparedness Teams (CPT) and Post-Disaster Response: In October 2013, the Oath Keepers announced the formation of civilization preservation cells (since renamed Community Preparedness Teams), which Rhodes claims are necessitated by the countrys impending (and possibly government-created) economic collapse. What differentiates the Oath Keepers from other antigovernment extremist groups is that the Oath Keepers explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military members, police officers and first responders (although they accept anyone as members). Caldwells attorney even suggested that Caldwells written communications to other Oath Keepers about his pre-strike rece (reconnaissance) missions were really about determining where the port-a-potties were near the Capitol in case the need arose on Jan. 6. Indeed, only three of the five defense attorneys chose to give opening statements, with the two others deferring until after the prosecutors present their evidence and rest their case. At the same time, Oath Keepers have also organized or participated in armed confrontations with law enforcement in different parts of the country, such as the Bundy Ranch standoff in Nevada in 2014. "[117], The following day, members were advised that Davis's legal team, acting on her behalf, had declined their offer to provide her a "security detail." r/BidenWatch U.S. economy shrank 1.4% in the first three months of 2022, the worst quarter in two years. The Oath Keepers Is a Militia Group Whose Members Believe Conspiracy Theories About Rights Being Stripped Away This event on Jan. 5 wasn't the first time Connie Meggs was apparently providing. He was later indicted on felony charges of possession of a firearm. As the election neared, Rhodes ratcheted up his rhetoric. Membership has never actually required current or former ties with military, police, or first responders. ", "The Oath Keepers: The Little-known Militia Now Roaming the Streets of Ferguson", "Return of armed militia group Oath Keepers to Ferguson raises concern", "Oath Keepers: Who are white militia at Ferguson protests and why are they allowed to carry guns? If Trump failed to do this Rhodes said that the Oath Keepers would. The Oath Keepers are essentially a reflection of American political thought in the 21st century. [69], During the second impeachment trial of former President Trump, House impeachment managers presented an allegation that members of the Oath Keepers participated in efforts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election by discussing "a brazen plan to ferry 'heavy weapons' in a boat across the Potomac River into Washington and began training sessions 'for urban warfare, riot control and rescue operations' well before Election Day. The Oath Keepers, headed by Stewart Rhodes, have links to many of the primary figures being investigated in connection with the Capitol breach and the lead-up to the attack. Rhodes had called an unnamed person on the evening of the attack, asking to speak directly to the president, urging the person on the phone to tell Trump he should call on groups like Oath Keepers to "forcefullyoppose the transfer of power. Oath Keepers have several theories they repeatedly peddle as proof that their constitutional republic is being taken over and destroyed by evil forces. The Oath Keepers aim much of their propaganda at members of military and police, reminding them that they swore an oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and asking them to pledge to disobey theoretical unconstitutional orders they might get from superiorsorders that explicitly or implicitly reference militiarelated conspiracy theories, such as mass gun confiscation or rounding up Americans to put them in concentration camps. In most contested criminal cases I handled over the years, the proof was largely circumstantial, and I had to urge the jury to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence to prove the defendants actions and intent. Following a 2011 no contest plea, Fairfield received a 16year sentence. The Oath Keepers belief that the allegedly tyrannical American government will use law enforcement and military personnel against its people leads to their avowed purpose of opposing such conspiracies. Chapters in Virginia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania received tax-exempt status between 2016 to 2018. UPDATE: OnJanuary 13, 2022,federal authorities arrestedOath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes oncharges ofseditious conspiracyfor his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Oath Keepers reacted on June 20, 2019, by stating: "Gov. A federal jury convicted him on the carrying a firearm charge but acquitted him of using a firearm in relation to another felony. With a host of tailor-made treatments and therapies, the spa offers a completely holistic experience designed to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing. He was named in a criminal complaint as having participated in the Capitol riots by President Donald Trump's supporters. They expect the same from government officials, both appointed and elected. The NYPD has launched an internal probe into two cops who are suspected of having ties to a far-right extremist group linked to the US Capitol attack, The Post has learned. Im going to use my training and become one of those domestic terrorists that youre so afraid of from the DHS reports. He still has many supporters within the Patriot movement. The pledge, which refers to the honorable vow of service given by those in uniform, reminds Oath Keepers that they swore an oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. By taking this pledge, Oath Keepers vow that they will refuse to cooperate with the tyrannical government by making a declaration that there are certain orders from superiors that they will refuse to obey. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten, um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. The attorney representing Thomas Caldwell opened by trying to highlight some evidence-gathering mistakes made by the FBI, none of which tended to exculpate Caldwell. That argument hardly negates her criminal conduct on Jan. 6. Daten ber Ihr Gert und Ihre Internetverbindung, wie Ihre IP-Adresse, Browsing- und Suchaktivitten bei der Nutzung von Yahoo Websites und -Apps. One thing that surprised him was the Oath Keepers don't usually advertise their presence at events like this. S.W.A.T. On Dec. 31, 2019, the Oath Keepers issued a call to action for the Lobby Day, stating that they were sending a team to Virginia to assist in organizing resistance to unconstitutional acts and to organize and train armed posses and militia. The Facebook event, The Militias March on the Capital, listed more than 550 attendees. ", "Oath Keepers: What anti-hate groups are saying about them", "Ohio militias: Who are the Oath Keepers, Ohio State Regular Militia? [120], The Oath Keepers' bylaws state that, "No person who advocates, or has been or is a member, or associated with, any organization, formal or informal, that advocates discrimination, violence, or hatred toward any person based upon their race, nationality, creed, or color, shall be entitled to be a member or associate member. Greenwood, Delaware, February 2015: Oath Keeper Matthew Opaliski was charged with three counts of dealing firearms without a license and two counts of unlawful transfer of firearms after he allegedly sold, traded or gave firearms to a person who was not a Delaware resident. Rhodes has said that the purpose of the Second Amendment is to preserve the ability of the people, who are the militia, to provide for their own security and to preserve the military capacity of the American people to resist tyranny and violations of their rights by oath breakers within government. Another Oath Keeper theory claims the Veterans Administration is busily deeming veterans mentally unfit in order to legally disarm Americans trained to fight, thereby paving the way for a foreign (New World Order) takeover. Reddit has hundreds of thousands of interest-based communities Officer Aniello Napoli . 6 min read. [88], On July 29, 2022, Justice Department prosecutors wrote in a court filing, "[] no government agent possessed actual authority to order the defendants' criminal actions, and, in any event, it would have been objectively unreasonable to rely on any such order."
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