A leader of the far-right Oath Keepers group who was accused of connection to the US Capitol riot claims that she was in Washington DC on January 6 to “provide security” at the pro-Trump rally and met with Secret Service agents , according to court proceedings.
Jessica Watkins, 38, reportedly received a “VIP pass” for the rally where then President Donald Trump spoke before the siege, his lawyers wrote in a defense petition filed on Saturday.
“Em. Watkins was present not as an insurrectionist, but to provide rally speakers with security, to provide escort for lawmakers and others to march to the Capitol as directed by the then President, and to safely escort Capitol protesters to their vehicles and cars at the conclusion of the protest ”, states the process.
“She received a VIP pass for the rally. She met with Secret Service agents. “
The Ohio native is one of nine people linked to the Oath Keepers accused of conspiring to invade the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying President Biden’s electoral victory.
Prosecutors allege that members of the anti-government group coordinated in early November to attack the Capitol.
The Afghan war veteran is also accused of forcibly entering the Capitol building during the siege, “with a line of individuals wearing Oath Keeper clothes, patches and badges.”
But in Saturday’s lawsuit, her lawyers claimed she “was not involved in any violence or force on Capitol or Capitol grounds”.
Watkins, who has been in detention since mid-January, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges.
She is asking to be released into confinement at home pending trial, noting that she is at risk of “severe treatment” as a transgender woman.
A Secret Service representative said that any claim that the agency hired private citizens to conduct security on January 6 “is false”.
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