Oath Keepers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Stewart Rhodes |
| Founded | March 2009 |
| Political orientation | Neo-fascism Trumpism |
The Oath Keepers are a far-right militia in the United States. Two-thirds of its members are retired military or police and 10% are currently in the military.[1]
2021 Capitol insurrection
Oath Keeper chapters from Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona participated in the 2021 Capitol insurrection. They formed three groups around the Capitol and were armed with semi-automatic rifles, grenades, axes, and "suitcases filled with ammunition." The Arizona chapter brought enough supplies to last 30 days.
Eleven Oath Keepers have been charged with seditious conspiracy due to their involvement in the insurrection: Thomas Caldwell, Joseph Hackett, Kenneth Harrelson, Joshua James, Kelly Meggs, Roberto Mintua, David Moerschel, Brian Ulrich, Edward Vallejo, and Jessica Watkins.[1]
Notable members
Stewart Rhodes is the leader of the Oath Keepers. After the January 6 Capitol riot, he spent over $17,000 on gun parts and tactical equipment and summoned Oath Keepers to Texas to fight against the police if they tried to arrest him.[1]
Jeremy Brown had multiple illegal firearms and military-level grenades. He brought his RV to Washington, D.C. for the Capitol insurrection but has not been indicted.[1]
Thomas Caldwell, a former Navy officer and FBI agent, kept a "death list" at his house that included the name of a Georgia elections official.[1]
Jessica Watkins fought in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2003. At her house, prosecutors found many firearms and recipes to make bombs.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jacob Crosse (2022-07-11). "Oath Keepers brought grenades, rifles, “suitcases full of ammunition” to Washington D.C. on eve of January 6" World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.