DOJ details evidence that Oath Keeper brought explosives to D.C. area

“On September 30, 2021, pursuant to an authorized search warrant, the government seized two illegal short barrel firearms from Brown’s residence and military ordinance grenades from Brown’s RV—the same RV that Brown used to travel to Washington, D.C. on January 6,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Edwards stated within the submitting.

Edwards indicated that investigators are uncertain whether or not Brown stashed these explosives at a Comfort Inn in Arlington, Va., the place different members of the group stockpiled firearms and different weapons, or saved them in his automobile.

The evidence, nonetheless, underscores the menace prosecutors say the Oath Keepers posed to the switch of energy. Founder Stewart Rhodes and a number of other different members of the Oath Keepers are going through seditious conspiracy costs. Two members of the group have already pleaded responsible to seditious conspiracy. More than a dozen different members are going through felony obstruction costs, and a number of other have pleaded responsible for his or her involvement and are cooperating with the federal government.

Prosecutors say in addition they intend to introduce a number of different items of evidence within the case that they contemplate related to present jurors, even when they’re not a part of the underlying costs going through the defendants. That evidence consists of details of a visit a number of of the alleged co-conspirators took to Washington, D.C., in November 2020 to protest the election outcomes. Just as earlier than Jan. 6, the individuals within the November journey stashed firearms and different weapons in a automobile in Arlington, Va., prosecutors say.

Prosecutors additionally need to introduce evidence at trial that one of many alleged co-conspirators, Thomas Caldwell, saved a “death list” that included the title of a Georgia election official. That checklist, which the federal government has beforehand cited in different courtroom filings, is evidence of Caldwell’s intent to thwart the peaceable switch of energy, prosecutors say. Prosecutors additionally need to introduce evidence that alleged co-conspirator Jessica Watkins saved bomb-making directions at her house.