The Department of Justice is Scrubbing its Website of Documents Related to January 6th Crimes
Read the press release related to the conviction of the leader of the Oath. Keepers
Thanks to a tip by Aaron Parnas I learned that the DOJ had purged its website of documents related to crimes involving the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The Trump administration is trying to re-write history again. These documents regarding the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol should not be hidden from the public.
On January 6, 2021 Trump supporters were trying to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power. According to witness testimony Donald J. Trump sat in the White House dining room and watched the massive melee unfold on Fox News.
During the attack more than 140 law enforcement officers were injured. For now the DHS still has archived documents regarding the attack on its website.
According to reporting by The NY Times
One officer lost the tip of his right index finger
Other officers were smashed in the head with:
baseball bats
flag poles
pipes
An officer lost consciousness as rioters used a metal barrier to push her into stairs
Some of the injuries included:
concussions - neurological impairment
heightened anxiety
PTSD
orthopedic injuries that required surgery and rehabilitation
rib fractures
burns
traumatic brain injuries
shattered spinal discs
stabbing - suspect used a metal fence stake
mild heart attack - the officer was repeatedly hit with a stun gun
strokes
Of the 1200 capitol police officers only 170 were equipped with riot gear
140 officers were injured (73 Capitol Police, 65 Metropolitan police)
Officer Brian Sicknick died immediately after the attack of a stroke
Four officers committed suicide soon after the attack
Three rioters also died that day Kevin Greeson, 55, and Benjamin Philips, 50, both died due to cardiovascular related events while Rosanne Boyland, 34, died of an accidental drug overdose.
Ashli Babbitt, a rioter, was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer while she and others were trying to breach a barricaded door inside the building. The Department of Justice has NOT purged a press release related to the investigation into her death. The following paragraph is from a press release dated April 14, 2021.
The investigation further determined that Ms. Babbitt was among a mob of people that entered the Capitol building and gained access to a hallway outside “Speaker’s Lobby,” which leads to the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time, the USCP was evacuating Members from the Chamber, which the mob was trying to enter from multiple doorways. USCP officers used furniture to barricade a set of glass doors separating the hallway and Speaker’s Lobby to try and stop the mob from entering the Speaker’s Lobby and the Chamber, and three officers positioned themselves between the doors and the mob. Members of the mob attempted to break through the doors by striking them and breaking the glass with their hands, flagpoles, helmets, and other objects. Eventually, the three USCP officers positioned outside the doors were forced to evacuate. As members of the mob continued to strike the glass doors, Ms. Babbitt attempted to climb through one of the doors where glass was broken out. An officer inside the Speaker’s Lobby fired one round from his service pistol, striking Ms. Babbitt in the left shoulder, causing her to fall back from the doorway and onto the floor. A USCP emergency response team, which had begun making its way into the hallway to try and subdue the mob, administered aid to Ms. Babbitt, who was transported to Washington Hospital Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Even though the DOJ just removed this from its website I wanted to share the details regarding - Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers.
The following paragraph is from a press release that is currently unavailable on the DOJ website.
This was published AFTER Rhodes’ conviction.
While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams. According to the government’s evidence, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power.
If anyone tried to find this exact document on the DOJ website they would see a blank page. Here’s a link
This is what the page currently looks like.
The following text is based off a copy of the press release regarding Rhodes’ conviction from the Internet Archive.
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Leader of Oath Keepers and Oath Keepers Member Found Guilty of Seditious
Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach
Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, and Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization, were found guilty by a jury today of seditious conspiracy and other charges for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Three additional defendants, who were leaders and associates of the organization – Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell – were found guilty of related felony charges. The verdict followed an eight-week trial and three days of deliberations. No sentencing date was set.
“Today the jury returned a verdict convicting all defendants of criminal conduct, including two Oath Keepers leaders for seditious conspiracy against the United States,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable those criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy on January 6, 2021. The prosecutors and agents on this case worked tirelessly, with extraordinary skill, and in the best traditions of the Department of Justice.”
“As this case shows, breaking the law in an attempt to undermine the functioning of American democracy will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will always uphold the rights of all citizens who peacefully engage in First Amendment protected activities, but we and our partners will continue to hold accountable those who engaged in illegal acts regarding the January 6, 2021, siege on the U.S. Capitol.”
“This case reaffirms the strength of our democracy and the institutions that protect and preserve it, including our criminal justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Over a period of many weeks, a fair and impartial jury heard evidence in a search for the truth of the conduct of these defendants before, during, and after the events of Jan. 6, 2021.”
“Democracy depends on the peaceful transfer of power. By attempting to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, the defendants flouted and trampled the rule of law,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI Washington Field Office. “This case shows that force and violence are no match for our country’s justice system.”
Rhodes, 57, of Granbury, Texas, also was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and tampering with documents and proceedings. Meggs, 53, of Dunnellon, Florida, also was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings.
Harrelson, 42, of Titusville, Florida, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. Watkins, 40, of Woodstock, Ohio, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties, and tampering with documents or proceedings. Caldwell, 68, of Berryville,
Virginia, was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, and tampering with documents or proceedings. According to the government’s evidence, the Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias. Following the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election, Rhodes, Meggs, and others began plotting to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power. Beginning in late December 2020, via encrypted and private communications applications, Rhodes, Meggs, Harrelson, Watkins, Caldwell, and others coordinated and planned to travel to Washington, D.C., on or around Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the certification of the electoral college vote.
The defendants also, collectively, employed a variety of manners and means, including: organizing into teams that were prepared and willing to use force and to transport firearms and ammunition into Washington, D.C.; recruiting members and affiliates; organizing trainings to teach and learn paramilitary combat tactics; bringing and contributing paramilitary gear, weapons, and supplies – including knives, batons, camouflaged combat uniforms, tactical vests with plates, helmets, eye protection, and radio equipment – to the Capitol grounds; breaching and attempting to take control of the Capitol grounds and building on Jan. 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent, hinder, and delay the certification of the electoral college vote; using force against law enforcement officers while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; continuing to plot, after Jan. 6, 2021, to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, and using websites, social media, text messaging and encrypted messaging applications to communicate with each other and others.
On Jan. 6, 2021, a large crowd began to gather outside the Capitol perimeter as the Joint Session of Congress got under way at 1 p.m. Crowd members eventually forced their way through, up, and over U.S. Capitol Police barricades and advanced to the building’s exterior façade. Shortly after 2 p.m., crowd members forced entry into the Capitol by breaking windows, ramming open doors, and assaulting Capitol police and other law enforcement officers. At about this time, according to the government’s evidence, Rhodes entered the restricted area of the Capitol grounds and directed his followers to meet him at the Capitol.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., according to the government’s evidence, Meggs, Harrelson, and Watkins, along with other Oath Keepers and affiliates – many wearing paramilitary clothing and patches with the Oath Keepers name, logo, and insignia – marched in a “stack” formation up the east steps of the Capitol, joined a mob, and made their way into the Capitol. Rhodes and Caldwell remained outside the Capitol, where they coordinated activities.
While certain Oath Keepers members and affiliates breached the Capitol grounds and building, others remained stationed just outside of the city in quick reaction force (QRF) teams. According to the government’s evidence, the QRF teams were prepared to rapidly transport firearms and other weapons into Washington, D.C., in support of operations aimed at using force to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power.
Rhodes was arrested on Jan. 13, 2022, in Texas. Meggs was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, in Florida. Harrelson was arrested on March 10, 2021, in Florida. Watkins was arrested on Jan. 18, 2021, in Ohio. Caldwell was arrested on Jan. 19, 2021, in Virginia.
The charges of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and tampering with documents or proceedings each carry a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge of conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging duties carries a statutory maximum of six years in prison. The charge of interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison. All of the charges also carry potential financial penalties. Each defendant was convicted of at least one offense that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S.
Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office with valuable assistance provided by numerous FBI offices throughout the country, including the Dallas, Cincinnati, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Richmond Field Offices.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s
National Security and Criminal Divisions. Valuable assistance was provided by numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country.
In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, over 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
What's really messed up that almost nobody talked about after these traitors got pardoned, was the fact that in many cases their families or friends helped turn them in.
In Rhodes' case specifically, I believe it was his own son and ex-wife (or wife, don't remember), who turned him in at great risk to themselves. Once he was convicted, they could rest in knowing that he was gonna be locked away for a very long time. But then, the orange shit stain commuted his sentence and set him free.
He never gave a shit what danger he likely put those families into, and now he wants to wipe away the convictions altogether and pay him a million dollars...