WASHINGTON (AP) – A man who officials say is leader of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers and helped organize a circle of other extremists and led them in the attack last month at the U.S. Capitol, he has held a top secret security clearance for decades and has worked for the FBI, his lawyer said on Monday.
Thomas Caldwell, who officials believe has a leading role in the extremist group, served as the FBI’s section chief from 2009 to 2010 after retiring from the Navy. His lawyer, Thomas Plofchan, wrote in a motion urging the judge to release him from prison pending trial.
The defense said Caldwell, who has denied being part of the Oath Keepers, has maintained a top secret security clearance since 1979, which has required several special background investigations, according to Plofchan. Caldwell also ran a consulting firm that did secret work for the United States government, the lawyer said.
“He has been examined and considered countless times as a person worthy of the trust and confidence of the United States government, as indicated in granting him Top Secret authorizations,” wrote Plofchan.
Most section heads within the FBI move up the bureau hierarchy and it is not clear whether Caldwell would have been hired directly for that position or if he held any other positions in the bureau. The FBI did not immediately comment on Monday night and Caldwell’s lawyer did not immediately answer questions about his client’s work.
Caldwell is one of three people the authorities have described as Oath Keepers who were accused last month of conspiracy and accused of plotting the attack on the Capitol in advance. He’s been in prison since his arrest at his home in Berryville, Virginia, on January 19.
Caldwell’s lawyer said he denies having entered the Capitol and has “physical limitations” that would prevent the 66-year-old from forcibly entering any building.
Caldwell’s lawyer said his client retired as a lieutenant commander in the Navy and that he was a “100% handicapped veteran”. Caldwell suffered from complications related to a “service-related injury”, including shoulder, back and knee problems, the lawyer said. In 2010, Caldwell underwent spine surgery, which later failed and led to chronic spine problems and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the court case.
Billing documents show messages between Caldwell and others about how to get hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days before the siege. In a Facebook message from Caldwell, one of the others says: “I’ll probably call you tomorrow … mainly because … I like to know what the plan is. You are the COMMANDER man. “
Authorities say the Oath Keepers communicated during the attack where the lawmakers were. At one point during the siege, Caldwell received a message that said “all members are in the tunnels under the capital,” according to court documents. “Seal them with gas,” he said.
Other messages say: “Tom, all lawmakers are in the tunnels, 3 floors below” and “go through the back doors of the chamber facing left, down the hall stairs”, according to court documents.
Caldwell is among the 200 or so people accused so far in the siege for federal crimes, such as disturbing Congress, disorderly conduct and aggression. A special group of prosecutors is considering whether to file charges of sedition, officials said.
Several members of the Proud Boys, an extreme right-wing extremist group that took over the policies of the Trump administration, were also accused of conspiracy and accused of working together during the siege.
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Richer reported from Boston.