A lawyer for a member of the Oath Keepers accused of the attack on the Capitol reversed controversial allegations that she was in Washington DC on January 6 to provide security while working with the Secret Service.
Jessica Watkins, 38, from Champaign County, Ohio, is facing a number of charges in connection with the insurrection, including conspiracy and aid in the destruction of property, along with eight other members of the far-right militia group.
Over the weekend, her lawyer claimed that she was present in the capital that day not as a rebel, but to provide security for those who spoke at the pro-Donald Trump rally in advance and “provide escorts for lawmakers and others to march to Capitol as directed by the then president. “
Her lawyers also claimed that she received a “VIP pass” for the January 6 rally and “met” with Secret Service agents.
After the original complaint made headlines, his federal public defender filed a “clarification” motion and denied that it was sanctioned to work as a security officer in any official way by the Secret Service.
“The lawyer apologizes for not being clear on some points raised in the original motion,” says the new lawsuit.
“The lawyer in no way wanted to say that Mrs. Watkins met with the Secret Service. A better verb would have been ‘found’.
“Ms. Watkins spoke to Secret Service members earlier in the day, when she was passing through the VIP area check-in point,” adds the motion.
“What the lawyer was trying to do was that she found law enforcement officers, including a Secret Service officer on her way to provide security for the demonstration. She received instructions on things she could or could not do, including instructions to leave all the equipment tactical outside the VIP area, and she accomplished by all of these directives.
“Ms. Watkins does not suggest that she has any direct knowledge that her role as security was sanctioned by anyone other than the people involved in organizing the rally. She certainly did not mean to suggest that she was hired by the US Secret Service to perform the security . “
A Secret Service spokesman previously said in a statement to CNN: “In order to carry out its protection functions on January 6, the United States Secret Service enlisted the help of several government partners. Any claim that the Secret Service employed private citizens to perform these functions is false. “
Although the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group that allegedly has tens of thousands of members, have provided security at events in the past, there is no indication that Watkins or the other eight people for whom she is accused were formally on Capitol that day to provide protection.
In the declaration listing the charges against her, prosecutors claim that Watkins used the social media app Parler brag about forcing entry into the Capitol building.
“Me before forcing my way into the Capitol building,” she supposedly wrote while sharing an image of her in full Oath Keepers parliamentary uniform.
“We invaded Capitol today … we reached the Senate,” she added in a separate post on January 6.
In another Parler Post, Watkins responded to a comment questioning whether she really forced into the building, replying, “No. Forced. Like Rugby. We entered through the Capitol’s back door.”
A hearing to decide whether Watkins can be released from custody before his trial is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
FBI / screenshot