WASHINGTON, D.C. – A regional leader of the Oath Keepers pleaded guilty on March 2 to seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding for his actions before, during and after the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His and others’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Joshua James, 34, of Arab, Alabama, pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol breach. As part of the plea agreement, James has agreed to cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigation.
As described in court documents, James is the regional leader in charge of the Alabama chapter of the Oath Keepers. The Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Though the Oath Keepers will accept anyone as members, they explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement, and first-responder personnel.
In his guilty plea, James, a military veteran, admitted that, from November 2020 through January 2021, he conspired with other Oath Keeper members and affiliates to use force to prevent, hinder and delay the execution of the laws of the United States governing the transfer of presidential power. He used encrypted and private communications, equipped himself with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear, and was prepared to answer a call to take up arms.
According to court documents, on Jan. 4, 2021, James and others traveled to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He brought a semi-automatic handgun and stored multiple firearms at a Virginia hotel. On Jan. 6, after learning the Capitol had been breached, James and others traveled to the Capitol on golf carts, driving around multiple barricades, including marked law enforcement vehicles. James was wearing a backpack, a combat shirt, tactical gloves, boots, a paracord attachment, and an Oath Keepers hat and patches. He and others unlawfully entered the Capitol together through the East Rotunda doors. Inside the Rotunda, James assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department officer by grabbing the officer’s vest and pulling him towards the mob. While pulling the officer, James yelled, “Get out of my Capitol! This is not yours! This is my Capitol!” James was expelled by law enforcement, including at least one officer who aimed chemical spray at him.
On the evening of Jan. 6, 2021, James and others heard that law enforcement was searching for them and immediately departed the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Soon after, James traveled to Texas to join with the leader of the Oath Keepers and other co-conspirators. There, he helped co-conspirators amass thousands of dollars’ worth of firearms, ammunition and firearms equipment – some of which he later stored in storage sheds in Alabama – and prepared to distribute the equipment to others and to engage in violence in the event of a civil war.
James was arrested on March 9, 2021. He was among 11 defendants indicted on Jan. 12, 2022, in the District of Columbia on seditious conspiracy and other charges; the others have pleaded not guilty. James faces up to 20 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and up to 20 years for obstruction of an official proceeding, along with potential financial penalties. No sentencing date was set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Birmingham Field Offices.
In the 13 months since Jan. 6, more than 750 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 235 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
All I can say is that I’m so glad that Iowa has steered red over the past decade.
As those liberal inner cities are torn apart by crime on a daily basis.
They were PATRIOTS – google it you foreign POS.
No, they THOUGHT they were patriots but actually they were stooges set up by Roger Stone and Donald J Trump. They are paying for the crimes of who they perceived to be their leaders.
Like Hillary and Hunter will?
Maybe, but that isn’t what we were discussing.
And what oath is that. Did someone invite you into that building? Do you belong to some club, cult, etc? What is exactly is it you thought you were doing anyways. Above all you should MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. If it’s not your business keep your nose out of it. And it is clearly plain to see that it is not your business. Go trash your own house. And why is it you think you know what’s best for others. You know the ole saying ‘misery loves company’. That’s your problem. Hence that’s what’s at the root of this so called ‘oath’. Sticking your nose into others business because your miserable. Classic dipsticks.
Aaarrrgggghhhhh…to the planks with these scurvy dogs!
And everyone involved with the 2020 summer riots
Exactly what oath are they keeping? To be hateful misogynist traitors? If so, they’re doing great.
Same oath as Nancy and Schiff
It’s obvious you don’t know the meaning of the word, misogynist.
You hear all your liberals nutbag talking heads say it, so you repeat it.
misogynist:
a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.