Militia members had plan for attack – FBI
Self-styled militia members from Virginia, Ohio and other states made plans to storm the US Capitol days before the January 6 attack, then communicated in real time as they breached the building on opposite sides and talked about hunting for lawmakers, according to new court documents filed yesterday.
While authorities have charged more than 100 individuals, details in the new allegations against three US military veterans show what they allegedly said to each other before, during and after the attack – statements that indicate a degree of preparation and determination to rush deep into the halls and tunnels of Congress to make ‘‘citizens’ arrests’’ of elected officials.
US authorities have charged an Oath Keeper leader, Thomas Edward Caldwell, 66, of Berryville, Virginia, over the attack, saying the US Navy veteran helped to organise dozens of people who coordinated their movements as they ‘‘stormed the castle’’ to disrupt the electoral vote confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
‘‘We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan,’’ codefendant Jessicawatkins, 38, a US Army veteran, said while the breach was underway, according to court documents.
FBI charging papers against
Caldwell, Watkins and a third man, former US Marine Donovan Crowl, 50, say Caldwell and others coordinated to disrupt Congress and recruited Oath Keepers members from North Carolina and like-minded groups from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
The group claims thousands of members who assert the right to defy government orders they deem improper.
FBI papers say Caldwell suggested a similar event at the local level after the Capitol attack, saying in amessage: ‘‘Lets storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!’’
Watkins, ofwoodstock, Ohio, told the Ohio Capital Journal last week that she formed the ‘‘Ohio State Regular Militia’’ in 2019, and that it had patrolled 12 protests to ‘‘protect people’’ on both sides. She said the siege was a peaceful protest that turned violent.
Crowl’smother, Teresa Rowe, said she was appalled to see pictures of him in the Capitol. She said he had become radicalised after leaving the US Marine Corps.
The arrests of several people with alleged ties to extremist groups, including the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys and the Three Percenters, have suggested that the riot was instigated or exploited by organised groups.