A man accused of being the leader of a paramilitary group called Oath Keepers was in contact with similar groups, including the Proud Boys, as early as mid-December to plan a potentially violent action in Washington on January 6, according to a newly published court document filed.
It was the government’s first suggestion that members of extremist groups contact each other before arriving in Washington.
The allegation came in a Justice Department memo opposing the pre-trial release of Kelly Meggs of Florida. Prosecutors said he was one of 10 members of the Oath Keepers who played an important role in the attack on the Capitol. Investigators repeatedly said that members of both groups were among those who first violated police lines around the Capitol and who broke into the building for the first time.
In the last presentation, prosecutors said Meggs “conspired with his co-conspirators to prevent certification of the Electoral College’s vote, prepared to use violence if necessary and invaded the Capitol.”
On December 19, the lawsuit said, Meggs posted a message on Facebook saying, “This week I organized an alliance between Oath Keepers, Florida 3% ers, and Proud Boys. We decided to work together and close this s … – low. “
Three days later, he posted “Contact PB and they will always have a large group. Strength multiplier,” said the government.
Between December 12 and January 4, prosecutors said, Meggs organized and participated in approximately 10 online discussions on the GoToMeeting videoconferencing platform that were affiliated with Oath Keepers. He led and planned the group’s activities and paid for two hotel rooms in Washington, the suit said.
The document does not claim that the groups formulated a plan to attack the Capitol before arriving in Washington. Asked during a “60 Minutes” interview last week if there was a premeditated plan to violate the Capitol, the man who oversaw the investigation, Michael Sherwin, said: “This is what we are trying to determine now.”
“It will be wild !!!! It will be incredible !!!! “wrote Meggs in a Facebook message, saying then President Donald Trump” wants us to do WILD, that’s what he is saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make him wild !!! … Gentleman, we’re going to DC, pack your s — !! “
In another Facebook message on December 25, Meggs said that he and other Oath Keepers were likely to be protecting someone during the day, the court document said. The name is cleared, but some Oath Keepers were providing security for Roger Stone, who had been a Trump adviser.
He also listed provisions that people would need in Washington, including mace, gas masks, batons and armor.
In that message, Meggs seemed to be contemplating some kind of street protest action, saying that the Oath Keepers would march with the Proud Boys, “then go back to the bottom of the crowd and hang up”, prepared to face any antifa member.
In another Facebook message, Meggs predicted that Trump would not resign. “Staying Trump, he will use the emergency transmission system on cell phones to transmit to the American people. Then, he will claim the act of insurrection.”
But on the afternoon of January 6, prosecutors, Meggs and other Oath Keepers said, rushed to the Capitol in a military-style formation.
