In sharing the new details of the case on Saturday, Watkins’ defense attorney, a former Army patrolman who served in Afghanistan, defends his release from prison on bail and other restrictions pending trial.
“On January 5 and 6, Ms. Watkins was present not as an insurgent, but to provide security for speakers at the rally, to provide escort for lawmakers and others to march to the Capitol, as directed by the then president, and to escort protesters safely out of the Capitol for their vehicles and cars at the conclusion of the protest, “the court case said on Saturday. “She received a VIP pass for the rally. She met with Secret Service agents. She was less than 15 meters from the stage during the rally to provide security for the speakers. At the time the Capitol was violated, she was still in view of the initial rally where she provided security. “
The U.S. Secret Service did not immediately respond on Sunday to a CNN request for comment.
Watkins’ lawyer argued in the new lawsuit that she was not accused of being violent in the confusion and that, although she is accused of helping to destroy property, she did not participate in the vandalism and encouraged others not to do so as well. The lawsuit is the high-profile defendant’s first substantial defense in court.
Watkins’ defense attorney Michelle Peterson wrote on Saturday that her client and other Trump supporters believed the then president would invoke the Insurrection Act to use the military to overturn what he falsely said was Joe Biden’s fraudulent election. And Watkins and others believed that “they would have a role if that happened,” the document said.
“However mistaken they were, her intentions were in no way related to the intention to overthrow the government, but to support what she believed to be the legal government. She vowed to support the Constitution and had no intention of violating that oath or of commit any violent acts. “
Watkins’ lawyer argued in the lawsuit that his client had potentially used tactical equipment to defend himself and climbed the Capitol steps with other Oath Keepers in a “pile” formation because the group may have wanted to be together in the crowd.
The lawyer also noted that Watkins now faces risks in prison, because of the coronavirus and being transgender.
She has been in detention since her arrest in mid-January. The Justice Department is trying to keep her in prison pending trial.
CNN’s Whitney Wild contributed to this report.