Meet The Oath Keepers Charged With Trying To Overthrow The U.S. Government

     On January 13th, 2022, 11 people were charged with sedition, or trying to obstruct or overthrow the government of the United States by force, a charge rarely levied but one that has been discussed since the day of the January 6th insurrection. All 11 were Oath Keepers, and nine of these individuals already faced other charges related to the Capitol riot:

1. Thomas Caldwell, 67, of Berryville, Virginia, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 86 years in prison. Caldwell recently appeared on Tucker Carlson's program to claim the Capitol riot was a matter of good versus evil. That may be true, but Mr. Caldwell was not on the side of good.
2. Joseph Hackett, 51, of Sarasota, Florida, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 66 years in prison.
3. Kenneth Harrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 86 years in prison.
4. Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering a restricted building or ground. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 51 years in federal prison.
5. Kelly Meggs, 52, of Dunnellon, Florida, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings. If convicted on all counts, she faces one to 86 years in prison.
6. Roberto Minuta, 37, of Prosper, Texas, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering a restricted building or grounds. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 51 years in prison.
7. David Moerschel, 44, of Punta Gorda, Florida, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of justice/Congress, and unlawful entry into restricted buildings or grounds. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 41 years in prison.
8. Brian Ulrich, 44, of Guyton, Georgia, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering and remaining in/on an official building or grounds. If convicted on all counts, he faces one to 51 years in prison.
9. Jessica Watkins, 39, of Woodstock, Ohio, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings. If convicted on all counts, she faces one to 86 years in prison.

     Two others are being charged for the first time:

1. Elmer Stewart Rhodes, 56, of Little Elm, Texas, best known as the founder of the Oath Keepers terrorist group, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, conspiracy to obstruct an officer from discharging any duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings and aiding and abetting. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 100 years in prison.
2. Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix, Arizona, has been charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 90 years in prison.