Three people associated with the paramilitary organization, the Oath Keepers, were indicted in a federal court in the District of Columbia on Wednesday in connection with the US Capitol riots on January 6.
Jessica Marie Watkins, 38, and Donovan Ray Crowl, 50 – both from Champaign City, Ohio – and Thomas Caldwell, 65, from Clarke County, Va., Have been accused of conspiracy, obstruction of an official process, destruction of government and illegal entry into building or restricted land.
ARCHIVE: Trump supporters try to break a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington.
(AP)
Bother Watkins and Crowl were arrested on January 18, while Caldwell was arrested on January 19, according to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
According to a criminal complaint filed on January 19, the three communicated before the January 6 rebellion and coordinated their attack. The DOJ said the three are affiliated with Oath Keepers, a paramilitary group that recruits current and former military personnel, police and first aid. Watkins and Crowl are also members of the Ohio State Regular Militia.
The criminal complaint says the three documented their participation in the Capitol riots on social media. Caldwell posted messages on Facebook like, “We are moving forward. Doors breached[.]”and at 3:05 pm just posted” Inside “.
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Watkins posted pictures of her and Crowl in his Parler account and captioned a photo saying, “Me before I force entry to the Capitol. # Stopthesteal2 #stormthecapitol #oathkeepers #ohiomilitia.”
She also posted a video of herself inside the Capitol with the caption: “Yes. We invaded the Capitol today. Teargassed, the whole, 9. We made our way to the Rotunda. We got to the Senate. The news is liar (even Fox) about the historical events that we create today. “
All three individuals were charged with a criminal complaint. The maximum penalty for obstructing an official process carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
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Federal authorities have accused more than 150 people in the siege of the Capitol, including some with links to right-wing extremist groups such as the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.