USA / Attack on the Capitol: Two ‘oath keepers’ to be sentenced for seditious conspiracy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two members of the far-right activist group Oath Keepers will be sentenced on Friday for conspiracy to commit treason and other crimes following the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol in the United States.

Prosecutors asked District Judge Amit Mehta to sentence Joseph Hackett and David Marshall to 12 and 10 years in prison, respectively. Amit Mehta has already sentenced six other members of the oath-taking from last week to prison terms ranging from three to eighteen years.

Joseph Hackett and David Marshall were convicted of conspiracy to commit treason – a charge that included attempting to “overthrow, overthrow, or forcibly destroy the government of the United States” – as well as obstruction of justice and members of Congress. Conspiracy to prevent persons from performing their duties. Joseph Hackett was also found guilty of falsifying documents or proceedings.

Both men were part of a group of sworn-in supporters of Donald Trump who entered the Capitol wearing paramilitary gear. The attack was aimed at preventing Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the November 2020 US election.

Prosecutors described Joseph Hackett as a low-level respectable within the Oath Keepers, pointing out that his call to arrest “corrupt politicians” portended his intentions on Capitol Hill, which includes the House of Representatives. involves “forcing your way” into the office of leader. ,

Joseph Hackett’s lawyer asked Judge Amit Mehta to “focus primarily on alternatives to imprisonment” in delivering his ruling.

David Marshall has asked to serve his sentence under house arrest, with his lawyer saying his client had followed suit on this “extremely stupid journey”. Prosecutors refuted this argument: The defendant allegedly left weapons, including an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, at a Virginia hotel on his way to Washington.

The judge postponed the sentencing of Thomas Caldwell, another member of the Oath Keepers, who had been acquitted of conspiracy to commit treason but convicted of other crimes.

(Reporting by Jacqueline Thomson in Washington; French edition edited by Gail Sheehan, Kate Enstringer)