Oath Keepers likely stashed weapons at a Comfort Inn prior to Capitol riot, prosecutors say

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 Pehal News Team 0 Comments

The new particulars flesh out earlier accusations from prosecutors that members of the Oath Keepers assembled a “quick reaction force,” or QRF, in Virginia that would deploy into the nation’s capital if wanted. For the primary time, prosecutors have revealed images of an alleged Oath Keeper carrying what seems like a weapon contained in the lodge the place the QRF was saved — the Comfort Inn in Arlington, Virginia.

Prosecutors stated Kenneth Harrelson, who has been charged within the Oath Keepers conspiracy, “likely contributed” weapons and introduced “what appears to be at least one rifle case” into the lodge. Harrelson is considered one of 12 defendants within the case, probably the most outstanding case tied to the rebel.

Harrelson texted a group chat on January 5, asking for the situation of the “QRF hotel,” in accordance to court docket filings. Kelly Meggs, one other alleged co-conspirator, stated they need to discuss over personal messages as a substitute of the group chat. Hours later, Harrelson arrived at the Comfort Inn, prosecutors stated.

Harrelson and the opposite Oath Keepers who’ve appeared earlier than judges in Washington, DC, have pleaded not responsible.

These are among the most concrete particulars in regards to the QRF that the Justice Department has entered into the general public court docket file. Up till now, it hasn’t been clear whether or not the QRF was aspirational or was a real-world effort to stockpile weapons to be doubtlessly used within the streets of Washington.

Prosecutors have obtained text messages from Oath Keepers discussing their plans and their objective of ferrying weapons throughout the Potomac River. Prosecutors later told a judge that they believed the planning changed into motion on January 6, with actual weapons at the prepared in Virginia. One protection lawyer claimed the QRF was a precautionary measure towards potential violence from Antifa.

A shift supervisor at the suburban lodge, Jonathan Cordero, informed CNN Tuesday that he wasn’t conscious of the allegations concerning the Oath Keepers and that, regardless, lodge workers cannot test individuals’s baggage.

“All we have is guests coming in and checking out,” Cordero stated. “We don’t even know if they are members of the Oath Keepers or anything like that. We cannot check their personal belonging or things like that, and we don’t know what they’re bringing in. People check in and people check out.”

The QRF has come up repeatedly within the Oath Keepers conspiracy case and has been a key sticking level in prosecutors’ arguments that the defendants pose a larger risk than a lot of the Capitol rioters.

Federal Judge Amit Mehta, who’s overseeing the massive conspiracy case, has repeatedly pressed prosecutors to present extra particulars in regards to the QRF. Prosecutors beforehand stated that they believed it was actual, and that their investigation was ongoing, however did not reveal that many specifics to the general public.

Mehta has saved a few of the Oath Keepers leaders in jail, however he additionally launched a few of their co-defendants from custody as a result of he stated they did not pose sufficient of an ongoing hazard to the general public.

This story has been up to date with further particulars.

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