In a 21-page court case, prosecutors offered more details than previously known about the alleged planning, training and coordination that some members of the Oath Keepers took over after Trump lost the November election.
In it, they ask a federal judge to detain Jessica Watkins, whom they describe as the leader of an Ohio-based militia linked to the Oath Keepers, saying she has extremist views that the Biden’s presidency represents an “existential threat” and actively recruited people to participate in a coup.
Prosecutors quote her on November 17, days after the election, telling a recruit that if Biden were president, then “our Republic would be over. So, it’s our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights. “
More than 200 people were indicted for the disturbances.
Watkins’ arrest memo on Thursday suggests that some of Trump’s most fervent supporters believed he was seeking to signal them to action.
In the memo, prosecutors say Watkins exchanged texts with another co-defendant and other unidentified contacts about coordinating a “rapid reaction force” (QRF) that would be there as a weapons reserve if necessary on January 6.
“(We may have night mace, tasers or bats. QRF staged, armed, with our guns, out of town“, She wrote, noting that the armed team would be” out of DC with weapons, awaiting … orders to enter DC with Trump’s permission. “
Watkins is in jail awaiting trial, has not yet filed an appeal and has not been found for comment. The court case does not list a lawyer for her.
The FBI’s investigations focused on members of extreme right-wing extremist groups who may have conspired to take over Capitol and halt the electoral certification process.