“In recent weeks, a steady drumbeat of Oath Keepers and their associates have pleaded guilty to crimes related to the Jan. 6 break-in at the U.S. Capitol, and agreed to cooperate with further investigations into the deadly riot,” reports the Daily Beast. “For the Oath Keepers, more so than almost any other group that participated in the break-in, those cooperation agreements could prove troubling to members anxious about catching charges. Of the more than 500 people charged in the riot, members of the Oath Keepers are among the only defendants accused of conspiracy for allegedly plotting the assault on the building, in an attempt to block the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.”
“Among those Oath Keepers associates to cooperate with investigators are Jon Schaffer, a heavy metal guitarist who admitted to breaching police lines while wearing a tactical vest and carrying bear mace; Graydon Young, an Oath Keeper who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstructing an official proceeding; and Mark Grods, an Oath Keeper who admitted to providing guns to another man to store in a Virginia hotel ahead of the attack.”
“In a Friday hearing, prosecutors said they had begun plea discussions with all remaining Oath Keepers conspiracy defendants, and that the talks were “productive.” They asked for multiple extra weeks to continue the discussions.”
“Grods’ and Young’s cases are particularly enmeshed in broader allegations of conspiracy by the Oath Keepers. According to a statement of offense in Young’s case, he coordinated with other Oath Keepers on encrypted messaging platforms to maintain “operational security” ahead of Jan. 6. Oath Keepers’ communications on and around that day are central to many of the group’s criminal cases, with prosecutors alleging the messages demonstrated a pre-planned attack.”
“Grods, meanwhile, was one of several Oath Keepers affiliates to arrive in D.C. heavily equipped. His criminal complaint cites CCTV footage showing him and two other men riding golf carts toward the Capitol. Grods also admitted to bringing guns to D.C. and giving them to another person to store in a Virginia hotel. Prior to the Capitol attack, according to communications presented by prosecutors, Oath Keepers discussed using “quick reaction forces” who would wait outside of D.C. with caches of weapons.”
“Although the group claims those forces never came to fruition, prosecutors argue otherwise, pointing to footage of what they say is an Oath Keeper wheeling at least one rifle case through a Virginia hotel shortly after he participated in a conversation about quick reaction forces.”