Capitol building was already breached
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:34 am
Caldwell and Rhodes were accused of discussing future plans of rebellion with others.
Rhodes' legal team urged the jury to look at the defendants' records as military veterans and law-abiding gun owners.
"They engaged themselves legally for 13 years," said James Lee Bright. By the time the 2020 election came around, he said, they had a "deep-seated fear" for the future of the country, one that ultimately led them to Washington, D.C.
Bright said in closing arguments that the Justice Department had buy phone number list not met its burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt "the big three" crimes alleged: "No plan to storm the Capitol … No plan to breach the rotunda ... No plan to stop the certification of the electors," he argued.
Other defense attorneys presented evidence that the by the time the Oath Keepers arrived and the defendants entered unimpeded.
Watkins' attorney Jonathan Crisp characterized what he said was the prosecution's selective use of the evidence at trial as "reprehensible" and argued for context. Bradford Geyer, who represented Harrelson, said the evidence did not meet the government's burden, urging the jury, "If the video doesn't fit, you must acquit." And Caldwell's attorney, David Fischer, urged the jury to clear his client's name.
Defense witnesses included neighbors and friends of some defendants, as well as certain FBI agents and experts questioned on their investigatory processes. Others, including individuals connected to the Oath Keepers, were meant to testify in the defendants' favor, but ultimately did not due to an illness in one case and concerns of exposure to potential criminal liability in the other.
Rhodes' legal team urged the jury to look at the defendants' records as military veterans and law-abiding gun owners.
"They engaged themselves legally for 13 years," said James Lee Bright. By the time the 2020 election came around, he said, they had a "deep-seated fear" for the future of the country, one that ultimately led them to Washington, D.C.
Bright said in closing arguments that the Justice Department had buy phone number list not met its burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt "the big three" crimes alleged: "No plan to storm the Capitol … No plan to breach the rotunda ... No plan to stop the certification of the electors," he argued.
Other defense attorneys presented evidence that the by the time the Oath Keepers arrived and the defendants entered unimpeded.
Watkins' attorney Jonathan Crisp characterized what he said was the prosecution's selective use of the evidence at trial as "reprehensible" and argued for context. Bradford Geyer, who represented Harrelson, said the evidence did not meet the government's burden, urging the jury, "If the video doesn't fit, you must acquit." And Caldwell's attorney, David Fischer, urged the jury to clear his client's name.
Defense witnesses included neighbors and friends of some defendants, as well as certain FBI agents and experts questioned on their investigatory processes. Others, including individuals connected to the Oath Keepers, were meant to testify in the defendants' favor, but ultimately did not due to an illness in one case and concerns of exposure to potential criminal liability in the other.