A mistakenly-disclosed sealed filing in the DC Circuit Court docket, in the case of a member of the Oath Keepers who participated in the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol, show that the named defendant is cooperating with investigators.
According to Politico, Jon Schaeffer’s indictment alleges he used bear spray on police officers defending the entrances during the assault on the Capitol. The self-described “lifetime member” of the Oath Keepers is now working with prosecutors to convict his fellow insurrectionists.
“The government’s ongoing plea negotiations with this defendant are the first and most advanced plea negotiations involving any of the over 300 Capitol Riot defendants,” prosecutors wrote in a filing they indicted was intended to be sealed to Judge Beryl Howell, chief of DC District Court.
Mistakenly, the court filing was included in public records a day before a hearing in which prosecutors were expected to request Schaeffer’s detention be continued without bail. Beryl rescheduled the hearing for April 21st at the request of both prosecutors and the defendant.
“Based on these debrief interviews, the parties are currently engaged in good-faith plea negotiations, including discussions about the possibility of entering into a cooperation plea agreement aimed at resolving the matter short of indictment,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Baset and Louis Manzo wrote. “Among the contemplated plea terms upon acceptance of a plea are the defendant’s release pending sentencing.”